LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST

Existing law, the California Community Care Facilities Act, requires the State Department of Social Services to license and regulate various out-of-home facilities and entities responsible for children and nonminor dependents in foster care, including foster family homes, group homes, and out-of-state group homes, and imposes training requirements on foster parents. A violation of the act is a misdemeanor.

Existing law provides for the placement of certain children in foster care under the supervision of the department and county welfare departments. Existing law also establishes the Aid to Families with Dependent Children-Foster Care (AFDC-FC) program, under which counties provide payments to foster care providers on behalf of qualified children in foster care. Existing law requires the department to establish procedures to recover
overpayments made to providers.

This bill would provide for the reclassification of treatment facilities and the transition from the use of group homes for children in foster care to the use of short-term residential treatment centers, as defined. The bill would impose licensing requirements on those facilities, the violation of which would be a crime pursuant to the act, thereby imposing a state-mandated local program.

The bill would revise the foster parent training requirements imposed by the act. The bill would also provide for the development of child and family teams, as defined, to inform the process of placement and services to foster children and to children at risk of foster care placement. The bill would make conforming and related changes, including requiring the department to develop a new payment structure for funding placement options for children in foster care. The bill would also revise the procedures for
recovering overpayments, and would make the failure to repay an overpayment grounds for termination of the provider’s rate and cause the referral of the provider for license revocation.

The bill would require, on and after January 1, 2017, all licensed foster family agencies to approve resource families, in lieu of certifying foster homes, in accordance with specified standards and requirements set forth in the bill.

The bill would require the State Department of Social Services to provide periodic progress updates to the Legislature on the implementation of the provisions of the bill. The bill would also include a statement of legislative intent.

This bill would incorporate additional changes made by AB 1387, SB 238, SB 484, SB 524, and SB 794, that would become operative only if this bill is
chaptered last.

Existing constitutional provisions require that a statute that limits the right of access to the meetings of public bodies or the writings of public officials and agencies be adopted with findings demonstrating the interest protected by the limitation and the need for protecting that interest.

This bill would make legislative findings to that effect.

The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement.

This bill would provide that with regard to certain mandates no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason.

With regard to any other mandates, this bill would provide that, if the Commission on State Mandates determines that the bill contains costs so mandated by the state, reimbursement for those costs shall be made pursuant to the statutory provisions noted above.

Digest Key

Bill Text

The people of the State of California do enact as follows:

SECTION 1.

(a) It is the intent of the Legislature in adopting this act to improve California’s child welfare system and its outcomes by using comprehensive initial child assessments, increasing the use of home-based family care and the provision of services and supports to home-based family care, reducing the use of congregate care placement settings, and creating faster paths to permanency resulting in shorter durations of involvement in the child welfare and juvenile justice systems. These changes, along with other provisions in this act, require initial investments in the child welfare system. It is expected that this act, and the initial short-term funding provided by the state to local agencies
to implement this act, will reduce overall costs to local agencies and allow local savings to be reinvested in child welfare services. If overall costs to a local agency are reduced, annual funding by the state to the local agency will only be provided as described in Section 36 of Article XIII of the California Constitution.

(b) Federal law requires that placements of children in foster care be in the least restrictive, most family-like environment. Federal law requires the review of the child’s case plan to assess the necessity for and appropriateness of the placement, to assess the progress that has been made toward the case plan goals, and project a likely date by which the child can be safely reunified, or placed for adoption or legal guardianship. Federal law requires the court to periodically, but no less frequently than every six
months, review the case plan, the child’s status, and the extent of compliance with the case plan.

(c) It is therefore the intent of the Legislature to maintain children’s safety, well-being, and healthy development when they are removed from their own families by placing them, whenever possible and appropriate, with relatives or someone familiar, or, when this is not possible or appropriate, with other caregiving families that are able to meet their physical, social, and emotional needs until they can return home. When reunifying children with their family is not possible, the obligation remains to seek other forms of permanency, such as adoption or guardianship. To achieve
this intent, the Legislature recognizes the following:

(1) That the experience and outcomes of foster youth will be improved by assessing the individual needs of each child and youth at the outset of his or her entry into foster care in order to identify and secure the most appropriate services and placement setting to meet those individualized needs.

(A) Services are consistent with the objectives of the Katie A. Settlement Agreement, which include the timely provision of an array of appropriate services that are coordinated, comprehensive, and community-based, and which address the needs of children and youth with more intensive needs requiring medically necessary specialty mental health services in their own home, or an appropriate homelike setting in order to facilitate
reunification and to ensure their safety, permanence, and well-being. Children in need of services are identified and assessed promptly. Child welfare and mental health agencies work together in the provision of coordinated services to these children and youth, and the child’s or youth’s family’s voice and choice are taken into account as demonstrated through the Core Practice Model.

(B) Efforts to achieve legal permanency and emotional permanency are necessary for every child and youth. These include establishing and maintaining connections to siblings, extended family, culture, and, if applicable, tribes.

(C) If necessary to meet their treatment and safety needs, some youth who enter foster care may benefit from an initial, upfront, short-term residential care placement to
provide crisis stabilization and the structure they require, with the goal of returning them back home or to a less restrictive, family-based setting as soon as possible. Children should not have to first exhaust a number and variety of less restrictive placements regardless of their individual need, which would be detrimental to their well-being.

(2) That children and youth in foster care have been affected by trauma, both by the fact that they have been separated from their family, and by the circumstances that led to their removal. Recognizing this trauma and minimizing additional trauma should be structured into how practice is implemented for children and youth in foster care.

(3) That youth in foster care under the supervision of county probation departments may require
additional considerations when being placed outside of the parental home. When ordering placement, the court and probation officers must consider the safety and needs of the youth and the public safety of the community. Significant reforms have been adopted in the juvenile justice system by the state and by the counties in recognition of the fact that detaining youth far from home is not ideal, but may be necessary for a small percentage of probation youth who have committed the most serious offenses. At the same time, in order to serve those probation youth whose needs can be appropriately met safely in least restrictive, family-based settings, sufficient capacity in home-based family care must be developed.

(4) That research demonstrates that being cared for in a family improves outcomes for children who have experienced abuse and neglect.
Therefore, children who cannot safely be placed in home-based family care can go into residentially based care with individualized, specific care plans and intensive therapeutic interventions, while emphasizing continuity of care, as demonstrated by the residentially based services pilot
program, established pursuant to Chapter 12.87 (commencing with Section 18987.7) of Part 6 of Division 9 of the Welfare and Institutions Code. These placements should be short-term in nature and designed to enable children and youth to return to their birth, kin, foster, or adoptive families as quickly and safely as possible, supported by services designed to help the child, youth, and family in this transition. With these services, relatives and foster families can care for children and youth with behavioral and mental health challenges that often are associated with neglect and abuse. Placing agency decisions regarding a specific family need to be based on a determination that the family has the ability and capacity to meet the needs of the specific child or youth.

(5) That working with the child, youth, and family as part of a
team results in better outcomes. The child and family team, including extended family and community or tribe, is the primary vehicle for collaboration on the assessment, case planning, and placement decisions that are made by placing agencies. Use of these teams is based upon the wraparound model of care and is intended to support social work, practice, and decisionmaking.

(6) That culturally relevant services and supports need to be made available to children, youth, and their caregivers, regardless of the placement setting, and individually tailored to their needs.

(7) That the practice of public agencies, private agencies, and service providers should be aligned through a common core practice model, with county child welfare and probation agencies retaining their case
management responsibilities.

(8) That there is a shift in the terminology used with respect to foster care to describe “resource families” as “home-based family care.” These families must parent and nurture vulnerable, traumatized children in emergencies, through transitions and crises, and sometimes make them a permanent part of their own families. These families are inclusive of related or unrelated caregivers who are approved to foster, adopt, or take guardianship of children in foster care, regardless of whether they are approved by a public or private agency.

(9) That the needs of children placed in residential group placements can most effectively be met when there is system accountability. Placement decisions should be informed by the provider’s performance on
common indicators that are publicly available. Providers should continuously work to improve the quality of the care they provide by using available data to manage performance.

(d) The Legislature further declares its intent to continue to adhere to the declarations in Section 175 of the Family Code, Section 1459 of the Probate Code, and Section 224 of the Welfare and Institutions Code pertaining to Indian children, including that the state is committed to protecting the essential tribal relations and best interests of an Indian child by promoting practices, in accordance with the federal Indian Child Welfare Act (25 U.S.C. Sec. 1901 et seq.) and other applicable laws, designed to prevent the child’s involuntary out-of-home placement and, whenever that placement is necessary or ordered, by placing the child, whenever possible, in a placement
that reflects the unique values of the child’s tribal culture and is best able to assist the child in establishing, developing, and maintaining a political, cultural, and social relationship with the child’s tribe and tribal community. To that end this legislation is not intended to displace or preclude options available to Indian children, such as placement in tribally approved homes as allowed under the federal Indian Child Welfare Act, or tribal customary adoptions pursuant to Section 366.24 of the Welfare and Institutions Code.

SEC. 2.

Section 7911 of the Family Code is amended to read:

7911.

The Legislature finds and declares all of the following:

(a) The health and safety of California children placed by a county social services agency or probation department out of state pursuant to the provisions of the Interstate Compact on the Placement of Children are a matter of statewide concern.

(b) The Legislature therefore affirms its intention that the State Department of Social Services has full authority to require an assessment and placement recommendation by a county multidisciplinary team prior to placement of a child in an out-of-state group home, to investigate allegations of child abuse or
neglect of minors so placed, and to ensure that out-of-state group homes, accepting California children, meet all California group home licensing standards.

(c) The Legislature also affirms its intention that, on and after January 1, 2017, the licensing standards applicable to out-of-state group homes certified by the department shall be those required of short-term residential treatment centers operated in this state.

(d) This section is declaratory of existing law with respect to the Governor’s designation of the State Department of Social Services to act as the compact administrator and of that department to act as the single state agency charged with supervision of public social services under Section 10600 of the Welfare and Institutions Code.

SEC. 3.

Section 7911.1 of the Family Code is amended to read:

7911.1.

(a) Notwithstanding any other law, the State Department of Social Services or its designee shall investigate any threat to the health and safety of children placed by a California county social services agency or probation department in an out-of-state group home pursuant to the provisions of the Interstate Compact on the Placement of Children. This authority shall include the authority to interview children or staff in private or review their file at the out-of-state facility or wherever the child or files may be at the time of the investigation. Notwithstanding any other law, the State Department of Social Services or its designee shall require certified out-of-state group homes to comply with the reporting requirements applicable to group
homes licensed in California pursuant to Title 22 of the California Code of
Regulations for each child in care regardless of whether he or she is a California placement, by submitting a copy of the required reports to the Compact Administrator within regulatory timeframes. The Compact Administrator within one business day of receiving a serious events report shall verbally notify the appropriate placement agencies and within five working days of receiving a written report from the out-of-state group home, forward a copy of the written report to the appropriate placement agencies.

(b) Any contract, memorandum of understanding, or agreement entered into pursuant to paragraph (b) of Article 5 of the Interstate Compact on the Placement of Children regarding the placement of a child out of state by a California county social services agency or probation department shall include the language set forth in subdivision
(a).

(c) (1) The State Department of Social Services or its designee shall perform initial and continuing inspection of out-of-state group homes in order to either certify that the out-of-state group home meets all licensure standards required of group homes operated in California or that the department has granted a waiver to a specific licensing standard upon a finding that there exists no adverse impact to health and safety.

(2) On and after January 1, 2017, the licensing standards applicable to out-of-state group homes certified by the department, as described in paragraph (1) shall be those required of short-term residential treatment centers operated in this state.

(3) On and after January 1,
2017, an out-of-state group home program shall, in order to receive an AFDC-FC rate, meet the requirements of paragraph (2) of subdivision (c) of Section 11460 of the Welfare and Institutions Code.

(4) Any failure by an out-of-state group home facility to make children or staff available as required by subdivision (a) for a private interview or make files available for review shall be grounds to deny or discontinue the certification. Certifications made pursuant to this subdivision shall be reviewed annually.

(d) A county shall be required to obtain an assessment and placement recommendation by a county multidisciplinary team prior to placement of a child in an out-of-state group home facility.

(e) Any
failure by an out-of-state group home to obtain or maintain its certification as required by subdivision (c) shall preclude the use of any public funds, whether county, state, or federal, in the payment for the placement of any child in that out-of-state group home, pursuant to the Interstate Compact on the Placement of Children.

(f) (1) A multidisciplinary team shall consist of participating members from county social services, county mental health, county probation, county superintendents of schools, and other members as determined by the county.

(2) Participants shall have knowledge or experience in the prevention, identification, and treatment of child abuse and neglect cases, and shall be qualified to recommend a broad range of services related to
child abuse or neglect.

(g) (1) The department may deny, suspend, or discontinue the certification of the out-of-state group home if the department makes a finding that the group home is not operating in compliance with the requirements of subdivision (c).

(2) Any judicial proceeding to contest the department’s determination as to the status of the out-of-state group home certificate shall be held in California pursuant to Section 1085 of the Code of Civil Procedure.

(h) The certification requirements of this section shall not impact placements of emotionally disturbed children made pursuant to an individualized education program developed pursuant to the federal Individuals with Disabilities
Education Act (20 U.S.C. Sec. 1400 et seq.) if the placement is not funded with federal or state foster care funds.

(i) Only an out-of-state group home authorized by the Compact Administrator to receive state funds for the placement by a county social services agency or probation department of any child in that out-of-state group home from the effective date of this section shall be eligible for public funds pending the department’s certification under this section.

SEC. 4.

Section 7912 of the Family Code is amended to read:

7912.

(a) The Legislature finds and declares that the health and safety of children in out-of-state group home care pursuant to the Interstate Compact on the Placement of Children is a matter of statewide concern. The Legislature therefore affirms its intention that children placed by a county social services agency or probation department in out-of-state group homes be accorded the same personal rights and safeguards of a child placed in a California group home. This section is in clarification of existing law.

(b) (1) The Compact Administrator may temporarily suspend any new placements in an out-of-state group home, for a period not
to exceed 100 days, pending the completion of an investigation, pursuant to subdivision (a) of Section 7911.1, regarding a threat to the health and safety of children in care. During any suspension period the department or its designee shall have staff daily onsite at the out-of-state group home.

(2) On and after January 1, 2017, the licensing standards applicable to out-of-state group homes certified by the State Department of Social Services shall be those required of short-term residential treatment centers operated in this state.

SEC. 5.

Section 6276.38 of the Government Code is amended to read:

6276.38.

Railroad infrastructure protection program, disclosure not required for risk assessments filed with the Public Utilities Commission, the Director of Emergency Services, or the Office of Emergency Services, Section 6254.23.

SEC. 6.

Section 1502 of the Health and Safety Code is amended to read:

1502.

As used in this chapter:

(a) “Community care facility” means any facility, place, or building that is maintained and operated to provide nonmedical residential care, day treatment, adult day care, or foster family agency services for children, adults, or children and adults, including, but not limited to, the physically handicapped, mentally impaired, incompetent persons, and abused or neglected children, and includes the following:

(1) “Residential facility” means any family home, group care facility, or similar facility determined by the director, for 24-hour nonmedical care of persons in need of personal services, supervision, or
assistance essential for sustaining the activities of daily living or for the protection of the individual.

(2) “Adult day program” means any community-based facility or program that provides care to persons 18 years of age or older in need of personal services, supervision, or assistance essential for sustaining the activities of daily living or for the protection of these individuals on less than a 24-hour basis.

(3) “Therapeutic day services facility” means any facility that provides nonmedical care, counseling, educational or vocational support, or social rehabilitation services on less than a 24-hour basis to persons under 18 years of age who would otherwise be placed in foster care or who are returning to families from foster care. Program standards for these facilities
shall be developed by the department, pursuant to Section 1530, in consultation with therapeutic day services and foster care providers.

(4) “Foster family agency” means any public agency or private organization engaged in the recruiting, certifying, and training of, and providing professional support to, foster parents, or in finding homes or other places for placement of children for temporary or permanent care who require that level of care. Private foster family agencies shall be organized and operated on a nonprofit basis.

(5) “Foster family home” means any residential facility providing 24-hour care for six or fewer foster children that is owned, leased, or rented and is the residence of the foster parent or parents, including their family, in whose care the foster children have
been placed. The placement may be by a public or private child placement agency or by a court order, or by voluntary placement by a parent, parents, or guardian. It also means a foster family home described in Section 1505.2.

(6) “Small family home” means any residential facility, in the licensee’s family residence, that provides 24-hour care for six or fewer foster children who have mental disorders or developmental or physical disabilities and who require special care and supervision as a result of their disabilities. A small family home may accept children with special health care needs, pursuant to subdivision (a) of Section 17710 of the Welfare and Institutions Code. In addition to placing children with special health care needs, the department may approve placement of children without special health care needs, up to the licensed
capacity.

(7) “Social rehabilitation facility” means any residential facility that provides social rehabilitation services for no longer than 18 months in a group setting to adults recovering from mental illness who temporarily need assistance, guidance, or counseling. Program components shall be subject to program standards pursuant to Article 1 (commencing with Section 5670) of Chapter 2.5 of Part 2 of Division 5 of the Welfare and Institutions Code.

(8) “Community treatment facility” means any residential facility that provides mental health treatment services to children in a group setting and that has the capacity to provide secure containment. Program components shall be subject to program standards developed and enforced by the State Department of Health Care
Services pursuant to Section 4094 of the Welfare and Institutions Code.

Nothing in this section shall be construed to prohibit or discourage placement of persons who have mental or physical disabilities into any category of community care facility that meets the needs of the individual placed, if the placement is consistent with the licensing regulations of the department.

(9) “Full-service adoption agency” means any licensed entity engaged in the business of providing adoption services, that does all of the following:

(A) Assumes care, custody, and control of a child through relinquishment of the child to the agency or involuntary termination of parental rights to the child.

Private full-service adoption agencies shall be organized and operated on a nonprofit basis. As a condition of licensure to provide intercountry adoption services, a full-service adoption agency shall be accredited and in good standing according to Part 96 of Title 22 of the Code of Federal Regulations, or supervised by an accredited primary provider, or acting as an exempted provider, in compliance with Subpart F (commencing with Section 96.29) of Part 96 of Title 22 of the Code of Federal Regulations.

(10) “Noncustodial
adoption agency” means any licensed entity engaged in the business of providing adoption services, that does all of the following:

(A) Assesses the prospective adoptive parents.

(B) Cooperatively matches children freed for adoption, who are under the care, custody, and control of a licensed adoption agency, for adoption, with assessed and approved adoptive applicants.

(C) Cooperatively supervises adoptive placements with a full-service adoptive agency, but does not disrupt a placement or remove a child from a placement.

Private noncustodial adoption agencies shall be organized and operated on a nonprofit basis. As a condition of licensure to provide intercountry adoption services,
a noncustodial adoption agency shall be accredited and in good standing according to Part 96 of Title 22 of the Code of Federal Regulations, or supervised by an accredited primary provider, or acting as an exempted provider, in compliance with Subpart F (commencing with Section 96.29) of Part 96 of Title 22 of the Code of Federal Regulations.

(11) “Transitional shelter care facility” means any group care facility that provides for 24-hour nonmedical care of persons in need of personal services, supervision, or assistance essential for sustaining the activities of daily living or for the protection of the individual. Program components shall be subject to program standards developed by the State Department of Social Services pursuant to Section 1502.3.

(12) “Transitional housing
placement provider” means an organization licensed by the department pursuant to Section 1559.110 and Section 16522.1 of the Welfare and Institutions Code to provide transitional housing to foster children at least 16 years of age and not more than 18 years of age, and nonminor dependents, as defined in subdivision (v) of Section 11400 of the Welfare and Institutions Code, to promote their transition to adulthood. A transitional housing placement provider shall be privately operated and organized on a nonprofit basis.

(13) “Group home” means a residential facility that provides 24-hour care and supervision to children, delivered at least in part by staff employed by the licensee in a structured environment. The care and supervision provided by a group home shall be nonmedical, except as otherwise permitted by law.

(14) “Runaway and homeless youth shelter” means a group home licensed by the department to operate a program pursuant to Section 1502.35 to provide voluntary, short-term, shelter and personal services to runaway youth or homeless youth, as defined in paragraph (2) of subdivision (a) of Section 1502.35.

(15) “Enhanced behavioral supports home” means a facility certified by the State Department of Developmental Services pursuant to Article 3.6 (commencing with Section 4684.80) of Chapter 6 of Division 4.5 of the Welfare and Institutions Code, and licensed by the State Department of Social Services as an adult residential facility or a group home that provides 24-hour nonmedical care to individuals with developmental disabilities who require enhanced behavioral supports, staffing, and
supervision in a homelike setting. An enhanced behavioral supports home shall have a maximum capacity of four consumers, shall conform to Section 441.530(a)(1) of Title 42 of the Code of Federal Regulations, and shall be eligible for federal Medicaid home- and community-based services funding.

(16) “Community crisis home” means a facility certified by the State Department of Developmental Services pursuant to Article 8 (commencing with Section 4698) of Chapter 6 of Division 4.5 of the Welfare and Institutions Code, and licensed by the State Department of Social Services pursuant to Article 9.7 (commencing with Section 1567.80), as an adult residential facility, providing 24-hour nonmedical care to individuals with developmental
disabilities receiving regional center service, in need of crisis intervention services, and who would otherwise be at risk of admission to the acute crisis center at Fairview Developmental Center, Sonoma Developmental Center, an acute general hospital, acute psychiatric hospital, an institution for mental disease, as described in Part 5 (commencing with Section 5900) of Division 5 of the Welfare and Institutions Code, or an out-of-state placement. A community crisis home shall have a maximum capacity of eight consumers, as defined in subdivision (a) of Section 1567.80, shall conform to Section 441.530(a)(1) of Title 42 of the Code of Federal Regulations, and shall be eligible for federal Medicaid home- and community-based services funding.

(17) “Crisis nursery” means a facility licensed by the department to operate a
program pursuant to Section 1516 to provide short-term care and supervision for children under six years of age who are
voluntarily placed for temporary care by a parent or legal guardian due to a family crisis or stressful situation.

(18) “Short-term residential treatment center” means a residential facility licensed by the department pursuant to Section 1562.01 and operated by any public agency or private organization that provides short-term, specialized, and intensive treatment, and 24-hour care and supervision to children. The care and supervision provided by a short-term residential treatment center shall be nonmedical, except as otherwise permitted by law.

(b) “Department” or “state department” means the State Department of Social Services.

(c) “Director” means the Director of Social
Services.

SEC. 6.5.

Section 1502 of the Health and Safety Code is amended to read:

1502.

As used in this chapter:

(a) “Community care facility” means any facility, place, or building that is maintained and operated to provide nonmedical residential care, day treatment, adult day care, or foster family agency services for children, adults, or children and adults, including, but not limited to, the physically handicapped, mentally impaired, incompetent persons, and abused or neglected children, and includes the following:

(1) “Residential facility” means any family home, group care facility, or similar facility determined by the director, for 24-hour nonmedical care of persons in need of personal services, supervision, or assistance essential for sustaining the activities of daily living or for the protection
of the individual.

(2) “Adult day program” means any community-based facility or program that provides care to persons 18 years of age or older in need of personal services, supervision, or assistance essential for sustaining the activities of daily living or for the protection of these individuals on less than a 24-hour basis.

(3) “Therapeutic day services facility” means any facility that provides nonmedical care, counseling, educational or vocational support, or social rehabilitation services on less than a 24-hour basis to persons under 18 years of age who would otherwise be placed in foster care or who are returning to families from foster care. Program standards for these facilities shall be developed by the department, pursuant to Section 1530, in consultation with therapeutic day services and foster care providers.

(4) “Foster family agency” means any public agency or private organization engaged in the recruiting, certifying, and training of, and providing professional support to, foster parents, or in finding homes or other places for placement of children for temporary or permanent care who require that level of care. Private foster family agencies shall be organized and operated on a nonprofit basis.

(5) “Foster family home” means any residential facility providing 24-hour care for six or fewer foster children that is owned, leased, or rented and is the residence of the foster parent or parents, including
their family, in whose care the foster children have been placed. The placement may be by a public or private child placement agency or by a court order, or by voluntary placement by a parent, parents, or guardian. It also means a foster family home described in Section 1505.2.

(6) “Small family home” means any residential facility, in the licensee’s family residence, that provides 24-hour care for six or fewer foster children who have mental disorders or developmental or physical disabilities and who require special care and supervision as a result of their disabilities. A small family home may accept children with special health care needs, pursuant to subdivision (a) of Section 17710 of the Welfare and Institutions Code. In addition to placing children with special health care needs, the department may approve placement of children without special health care needs, up to the licensed capacity.

(7) “Social rehabilitation facility” means any residential facility that provides social rehabilitation services for no longer than 18 months in a group setting to adults recovering from mental illness who temporarily need assistance, guidance, or counseling. Program components shall be subject to program standards pursuant to Article 1 (commencing with Section 5670) of Chapter 2.5 of Part 2 of Division 5 of the Welfare and Institutions Code.

(8) “Community treatment facility” means any residential facility that provides mental health treatment services to children in a group setting and that has the capacity to provide secure containment. Program components shall be subject to program standards developed and enforced by the State Department of Health Care Services pursuant to Section 4094 of the Welfare and Institutions Code.

Nothing in this
section shall be construed to prohibit or discourage placement of persons who have mental or physical disabilities into any category of community care facility that meets the needs of the individual placed, if the placement is consistent with the licensing regulations of the department.

(9) “Full-service adoption agency” means any licensed entity engaged in the business of providing adoption services, that does all of the following:

(A) Assumes care, custody, and control of a child through relinquishment of the child to the agency or involuntary termination of parental rights to the child.

Private full-service adoption agencies shall be organized and operated on a nonprofit basis. As a condition of licensure to provide intercountry adoption services, a full-service adoption agency shall be accredited and in good standing according to Part 96 of Title 22 of the Code of Federal Regulations, or supervised by an accredited primary provider, or acting as an exempted provider, in compliance with Subpart F (commencing with Section 96.29) of Part 96 of Title 22 of the Code of Federal Regulations.

(10) “Noncustodial adoption agency” means any licensed entity engaged in the business of providing adoption services, that does all of the following:

(A) Assesses the prospective adoptive parents.

(B) Cooperatively matches
children freed for adoption, who are under the care, custody, and control of a licensed adoption agency, for adoption, with assessed and approved adoptive applicants.

(C) Cooperatively supervises adoptive placements with a full-service adoptive agency, but does not disrupt a placement or remove a child from a placement.

Private noncustodial adoption agencies shall be organized and operated on a nonprofit basis. As a condition of licensure to provide intercountry adoption services, a noncustodial adoption agency shall be accredited and in good standing according to Part 96 of Title 22 of the Code of Federal Regulations, or supervised by an accredited primary provider, or acting as an exempted provider, in compliance with Subpart F (commencing with Section 96.29) of Part 96 of Title 22 of the Code of Federal Regulations.

(11) “Transitional
shelter care facility” means any group care facility that provides for 24-hour nonmedical care of persons in need of personal services, supervision, or assistance essential for sustaining the activities of daily living or for the protection of the individual. Program components shall be subject to program standards developed by the State Department of Social Services pursuant to Section 1502.3.

(12) “Transitional housing placement provider” means an organization licensed by the department pursuant to Section 1559.110 and Section 16522.1 of the Welfare and Institutions Code to provide transitional housing to foster children at least 16 years of age and not more than 18 years of age, and nonminor dependents, as defined in subdivision (v) of Section 11400 of the Welfare and Institutions Code, to promote their transition to adulthood. A transitional housing placement provider shall be privately operated and organized on a nonprofit basis.

(13) “Group home” means a residential facility that provides 24-hour care and supervision to children, delivered at least in part by staff employed by the licensee in a structured environment. The care and supervision provided by a group home shall be nonmedical, except as otherwise permitted by law.

(14) “Runaway and homeless youth shelter” means a group home licensed by the department to operate a program pursuant to Section 1502.35 to provide voluntary, short-term, shelter and personal services to runaway youth or homeless youth, as defined in paragraph (2) of subdivision (a) of Section 1502.35.

(15) “Enhanced behavioral supports home” means a facility certified by the State Department of Developmental Services pursuant to Article 3.6 (commencing with Section 4684.80) of Chapter 6 of Division 4.5 of the Welfare and
Institutions Code, and licensed by the State Department of Social Services as an adult residential facility or a group home that provides 24-hour nonmedical care to individuals with developmental disabilities who require enhanced behavioral supports, staffing, and supervision in a homelike setting. An enhanced behavioral supports home shall have a maximum capacity of four consumers, shall conform to Section 441.530(a)(1) of Title 42 of the Code of Federal Regulations, and shall be eligible for federal Medicaid home- and community-based services funding.

(16) “Community crisis home” means a facility certified by the State Department of Developmental Services pursuant to Article 8 (commencing with Section 4698) of Chapter 6 of Division 4.5 of the Welfare and Institutions Code, and licensed by the State Department of Social Services pursuant to Article 9.7 (commencing with Section 1567.80), as an adult residential facility, providing 24-hour
nonmedical care to individuals with developmental disabilities receiving regional center service, in need of crisis intervention services, and who would otherwise be at risk of admission to the acute crisis center at Fairview Developmental Center, Sonoma Developmental Center, an acute general hospital, acute psychiatric hospital, an institution for mental disease, as described in Part 5 (commencing with Section 5900) of Division 5 of the Welfare and Institutions Code, or an out-of-state placement. A community crisis home shall have a maximum capacity of eight consumers, as defined in subdivision (a) of Section 1567.80, shall conform to Section 441.530(a)(1) of Title 42 of the Code of Federal Regulations, and shall be eligible for federal Medicaid home- and community-based services funding.

(17) “Crisis nursery” means a facility licensed by the department to operate a program pursuant to Section 1516 to provide short-term care and supervision
for children under six years of age who are voluntarily placed for temporary care by a parent or legal guardian due to a family crisis or stressful situation.

(18) “Short-term residential treatment center” means a residential facility licensed by the department pursuant to Section 1562.01 and operated by any public agency or private organization that provides short-term, specialized, and intensive treatment, and 24-hour care and supervision to children. The care and supervision provided by a short-term residential treatment center shall be nonmedical, except as otherwise permitted by law.

(19) “Private or public residential care facility for youth” means a facility or program licensed by the
department to operate pursuant to Section 1502.2 to provide nonmedical care, counseling, or educational or vocational support to persons under 18 years of age with social, emotional, behavioral, or mental health issues or disorders.

(b) “Department” or “state department” means the State Department of Social Services.

(c) “Director” means the Director of Social Services.

SEC. 7.

Section 1502.4 of the Health and Safety Code is amended to read:

1502.4.

(a) (1) A community care facility licensed as a group home for children pursuant to this chapter may accept for placement, and provide care and supervision to, a child assessed as seriously emotionally disturbed, as long as the child does not need inpatient care in a licensed health facility.

(2) For the purpose of this chapter, the following definitions shall apply:

(A) “Health facility” has the meaning set forth in Section 1250.

(B) “Seriously emotionally disturbed” has the same meaning as that term is used in subdivision (a) of Section 5600.3 of the Welfare
and Institutions Code.

(b) If a child described in subdivision (a) is placed into a group home program classified at rate classification level 13 or rate classification level 14 pursuant to Section 11462.01 of the Welfare and Institutions Code, the licensee shall meet both of the following requirements:

(1) The licensee shall agree to accept, for placement into its group home program, only children who have been assessed as seriously emotionally disturbed, by either of the following:

(A) An interagency placement committee, as described in Section 4096 of the Welfare and Institutions Code or by a licensed mental health professional, as defined in subdivision (g) of Section 4096 of the Welfare and Institutions Code.

(B) A licensed mental health professional as defined in subdivision (g) of Section 4096 of the Welfare and Institutions Code if the child is privately placed or only county funded.

(2) The program is certified by the State Department of Health Care Services, pursuant to Section 4096.5 of the Welfare and Institutions Code, as a program that provides mental health treatment services for seriously emotionally disturbed children.

(c) The department shall not evaluate, or have any responsibility or liability with regard to the evaluation of, the mental health treatment services provided pursuant to this section.

(d) This section shall remain in
effect only until January 1, 2017, and as of that date is repealed, unless a later enacted statute, that is enacted before January 1, 2017, deletes or extends that date.

SEC. 8.

Section 1502.4 is added to the Health and Safety Code, to read:

1502.4.

(a) A licensed short-term residential treatment center, as defined in paragraph (18) of subdivision (a) of Section 1502, may only accept for placement a child who does not require inpatient care in a licensed health facility and who has been assessed pursuant to Section 11462.01 of the Welfare and Institutions Code as meeting the applicable criteria for placement in a short-term residential treatment center.

(b) A licensed foster family agency, as defined in paragraph (4) of subdivision (a) of Section 1502, may accept for placement a child who does not require inpatient care in a licensed health facility, as defined in Section 1250, and who has been assessed
pursuant to Section 11462.01 of the Welfare and Institutions Code as meeting the applicable criteria for placement by a foster family agency.

(c) For the purposes of this chapter, the following definitions shall apply:

(1) “Health facility” has the meaning set forth in Section 1250.

(2) “Seriously emotionally disturbed” has the same meaning as that term is used in subdivision (a) of Section 5600.3 of the Welfare and Institutions Code.

(d) The department shall not evaluate, nor have any responsibility or liability with regard to the evaluation of, the mental health treatment services provided pursuant to this section.

(e) This section shall become operative on January 1, 2017.

SEC. 9.

Section 1502.45 is added to the Health and Safety Code, immediately following Section 1502.4, to read:

1502.45.

(a) (1) Notwithstanding Section 1502.4, a community care facility licensed as a group home for children pursuant to this chapter may only accept for placement, and provide care and supervision to, a child assessed as seriously emotionally disturbed as long as the child does not need inpatient care in a licensed health facility, as defined in Section 1250.

(2) For the purpose of this section, the following definitions shall apply:

(A) “Health facility” has the meaning set forth in Section 1250.

(B) “Seriously emotionally
disturbed” has the same meaning as that term is used in subdivision (a) of Section 5600.3 of the Welfare and Institutions Code.

(b) If a child described in subdivision (a) is placed into a group home program classified at rate classification level 13 or rate classification level 14 pursuant to Section 11462.015 of the Welfare and Institutions Code, the licensee shall meet both of the following requirements:

(1) The licensee shall agree to accept, for placement into its group home program, only children who have been assessed as seriously emotionally disturbed by either of the following:

(A) An interagency placement committee, as described in Section 4096.1 of the Welfare and Institutions Code or by a licensed
mental health professional, as defined in subdivision (g) of Section 4096 of the Welfare and Institutions Code.

(B) A licensed mental health professional as defined in subdivision (g) of Section 4096 of the Welfare and Institutions Code if the child is privately placed or only county funded.

(2) The program is certified by the State Department of Health Care Services, pursuant to Section 4096.55 of the Welfare and Institutions Code, as a program that provides mental health treatment services for seriously emotionally disturbed children.

(c) The department shall not evaluate, or have any responsibility or liability with regard to the evaluation of, the mental health treatment services provided pursuant to this
section.

(d) This section shall only apply to a group home that has been granted an extension pursuant to the exception process described in subdivision (d) of Section 11462.04 of the Welfare and Institutions Code.

(e) This section shall become operative on January 1, 2017.

(f) This section shall remain in effect only until January 1, 2019, and as of that date is repealed, unless a later enacted statute, that is enacted before January 1, 2019, deletes or extends that date.

SEC. 10.

Section 1506 of the Health and Safety Code is amended to read:

1506.

(a) (1) Any holder of a valid license issued by the department that authorizes the licensee to engage in foster family agency functions may use only a certified family home that has been certified by that agency or a licensed foster family home approved for this use by the licensing county pursuant to Section 1506.5.

(2) Any home selected and certified for the reception and care of children by that licensee shall not, during the time it is certified and used only by that agency for these placements or care, be subject to Section 1508. A certified family home may not be concurrently licensed as a foster family home or as any other licensed residential facility.

(3) A child with a developmental disability who is placed in a certified family home by a foster family agency that is operating under agreement with the regional center responsible for that child may remain in the certified family home after the age of 18 years. The determination regarding whether and how long he or she may remain as a resident after the age of 18 years shall be made through the agreement of all parties involved, including the resident, the foster parent, the foster family agency social worker, the resident’s regional center case manager, and the resident’s parent, legal guardian, or conservator, as appropriate. This determination shall include a needs and service plan that contains an assessment of the child’s needs to ensure continued compatibility with the other children in placement. The needs and service plan shall be completed
no more than six months prior to the child’s 18th birthday. The assessment shall be documented and maintained in the child’s file with the foster family agency.

(b) (1) A foster family agency shall certify to the department that the home has met the department’s licensing standards. A foster family agency may require a family home to meet additional standards or be compatible with its treatment approach.

(2) The foster family agency shall issue a certificate of approval to the certified family home upon its determination that it has met the standards established by the department and before the placement of any child in the home. The certificate shall be valid for a period not to exceed one year. The annual recertification shall require a certified family home
to complete at least 12 hours of structured applicable training or continuing education. At least one hour of training during the first six months following initial certification shall be dedicated to meeting the requirements of paragraph (1) of subdivision (b) of Section 11174.1 of the Penal Code.

(3) If the agency determines that the home no longer meets the standards, it shall notify the department and the local placing agency.

(c) As used in this chapter, “certified family home” means a family residence certified by a licensed foster family agency and issued a certificate of approval by that agency as meeting licensing standards, and used only by that foster family agency for placements.

(d) (1) Requirements for social work personnel for a foster family agency shall be a master’s degree from an accredited or state-approved graduate school in social work or social welfare, or equivalent education and experience, as determined by the department.

(2) Persons who possess a master’s degree from an accredited or state-approved graduate school in any of the following areas, or equivalent education and experience, as determined by the department, shall be considered to be qualified to perform social work activities in a foster family agency:

(A) Marriage, family, and child counseling.

(B) Child psychology.

(C) Child development.

(D) Counseling psychology.

(E) Social psychology.

(F) Clinical psychology.

(G) Educational psychology, consistent with the scope of practice as described in Section 4989.14 of the Business and Professions Code.

(H) Education, with emphasis on counseling.

(e) (1) In addition to the degree specifications in subdivision (d), all of the following coursework and field practice or experience, as defined in departmental regulations, shall be required of all new hires for the position of social work personnel effective January
1, 1995:

(A) At least three semester units of field practice at the master’s level or six months’ full-time equivalent experience in a public or private social service agency setting.

(B) At least nine semester units of coursework related to human development or human behavior, or, within the first year of employment, experience working with children and families as a major responsibility of the position under the supervision of a supervising social worker.

(C) At least three semester units in working with minority populations or six months of experience in working with minority populations or training in cultural competency and working with minority populations within the first six months of employment as a condition of
employment.

(D) At least three semester units in child welfare or at least six months of experience in a public or private child welfare social services setting for a nonsupervisory social worker. A supervising social worker shall have two years’ experience in a public or private child welfare social services setting.

(2) (A) Persons who do not meet the requirements specified in subdivision (d) or (e) may apply for an exception as provided for in subdivisions (f) and (g).

(B) Exceptions granted by the department prior to January 1, 1995, shall remain in effect.

(3) (A) Persons who are hired as social work personnel on or after
January 1, 1995, who do not meet the requirements listed in this subdivision shall be required to successfully meet those requirements in order to be employed as social work personnel in a foster family agency.

(B) Employees who were hired prior to January 1, 1995, shall not be required to meet the requirements of this subdivision in order to remain employed as social work personnel in a foster family agency.

(4) Coursework and field practice or experience completed to fulfill the degree requirements of subdivision (d) may be used to satisfy the requirements of this subdivision.

(f) Individuals seeking an exception to the requirements of subdivision (d) or (e) based on completion of equivalent education and
experience shall apply to the department by the process established by the department.

(g) The department shall be required to complete the process for the exception to minimum education and experience requirements described in subdivisions (d) and (e) within 30 days of receiving the exception application of social work personnel or supervising social worker qualifications from the foster family agency.

(h) The department shall review the feasibility of instituting a licensure category to cover foster homes that are established specifically to care for and supervise adults with developmental disabilities, as defined in subdivision (a) of Section 4512 of the Welfare and Institutions Code, to prevent the institutionalization of those individuals.

(i) For purposes of this section, “social work personnel” means supervising social workers as well as nonsupervisory social workers.

SEC. 11.

Section 1506.1 is added to the Health and Safety Code, to read:

1506.1.

(a) A foster family agency shall prepare and maintain a current, written plan of operation as required by the department.

(b) (1) On and after January 1, 2017, a foster family agency shall have national accreditation from an entity identified by the department pursuant to the process described in paragraph (8) of subdivision (b) of Section 11463 of the Welfare and Institutions Code.

(2) Notwithstanding paragraph (1), the department may issue a provisional license to a foster family agency and may extend the term of the provisional license in order for the foster family agency to
secure accreditation as set forth in subdivision (c) of Section 1525.5.

(c) (1) On and after January 1, 2017, a foster family agency’s plan of operation shall demonstrate the foster family agency’s ability to support the differing needs of children and their families.

(2) On and after January 1, 2017, a foster family agency’s plan of operation shall contain a plan for the supervision, evaluation, and training of staff. The training plan shall be appropriate to meet the needs of children, and it shall be consistent with the training provided to resource families as set forth in Section 16519.5 of the Welfare and Institutions Code.

(3) In addition to complying with the rules and regulations adopted
pursuant to this chapter, on and after January 1, 2017, a foster family agency’s plan of operation shall include a program statement. The program statement shall contain a description of all of the following:

(A) The core services and supports, as set forth in paragraph (5) of subdivision (b) of Section 11463 of the Welfare and Institutions Code, and as prescribed by the department, to be offered to children and their families, as appropriate or as necessary.

(B) The treatment practices that will be used in serving children and families.

(C) The procedures for the development, implementation, and periodic updating of the needs and services plan for children placed with the foster family agency or served by the foster
family agency, and procedures for collaborating with the child and family team as described in paragraph (4) of subdivision (a) of Section 16501 of the Welfare and Institutions Code, that includes, but is not limited to, a description of the services to be provided to meet the treatment needs of children assessed pursuant to subdivision (d) or (e) of Section 11462.01 of the Welfare and Institutions Code.

(D) How the foster family agency will comply with the resource family approval standards and requirements, as set forth in Section 16519.5 of the Welfare and Institutions Code.

(E) A description of the population or populations to be served.

(F) Any other information that may be prescribed by the department for the
proper administration of this section.

(d) In addition to the rules and regulations adopted pursuant to this chapter, a county licensed to operate a foster family agency shall describe, in the plan of operation, its conflict-of-interest mitigation plan, on and after January 1, 2017, as set forth in subdivision (g) of Section 11462.02 of the Welfare and Institutions Code.

(e) The foster family agency’s plan of operation shall demonstrate the foster family agency’s ability to provide treatment services to meet the individual needs of children placed in licensed, approved, or certified relative and nonrelative foster families, as specified in Section 11402 of the Welfare and Institutions Code.

(f) The department shall
have the authority to inspect a foster family agency pursuant to the system of governmental monitoring and oversight developed by the department on and after January 1, 2017, pursuant to subdivision (c) of Section 11463 of the Welfare and Institutions Code.

(g) The department shall establish procedures for a county review process, at the county’s option, for foster family agencies, which may include the review of the foster family agency’s program statement, and which shall be established in consultation with the County Welfare Directors Association of California, Chief Probation Officers of California, and stakeholders, as appropriate.

SEC. 12.

Section 1507.25 of the Health and Safety Code is amended to read:

1507.25.

(a) (1) Notwithstanding any other law, a person described in paragraph (2), who is not a licensed health care professional, but who is trained to administer injections by a licensed health care professional practicing within his or her scope of practice, may administer emergency medical assistance and injections for severe diabetic hypoglycemia and anaphylactic shock to a foster child in placement.

(2) The following individuals shall be authorized to administer emergency medical assistance and injections in accordance with this subdivision:

(A) A relative
caregiver.

(B) A nonrelative extended family member.

(C) A foster family home parent.

(D) A member of a resource family, as defined in subdivision (c) of Section 16519.5 of the Welfare and Institutions Code.

(E) A small family home parent.

(F) A certified parent of a foster family agency.

(G) A substitute caregiver of a foster family home or a certified family home.

(H) A staff member of a small family home or a group home who provides direct care and supervision to children and
youth residing in the small family home or group home.

(I) A staff member of a short-term residential treatment center who provides direct care and supervision to children and youth residing in the short-term residential treatment center.

(3) The licensed health care professional shall periodically review, correct, or update training provided pursuant to this section as he or she deems necessary and appropriate.

(b) (1) Notwithstanding any other law, a person described in paragraph (2), who is not a licensed health care professional, but who is trained to administer injections by a licensed health care professional practicing within his or her scope of practice, may administer subcutaneous injections
of other medications, including insulin, as prescribed by the child’s physician, to a foster child in placement.

(2) The following individuals shall be authorized to give prescribed injections including insulin in accordance with this subdivision:

(A) A relative caregiver.

(B) A nonrelative extended family member.

(C) A foster family home parent.

(D) A member of a resource family, as defined in subdivision (c) of Section 16519.5 of the Welfare and Institutions Code.

(E) A small family home parent.

(F) A certified parent of a foster family agency.

(G) In the absence of a foster parent, a designated substitute caregiver in a foster family home or a certified family home.

(H) A direct care staff member of a short-term residential treatment center who provides direct care and supervision to children and youth residing in the short-term residential treatment center.

(3) The licensed health care professional shall periodically review, correct, or update training provided pursuant to this section as he or she deems necessary and appropriate.

(c) For purposes of this section, administration of an insulin injection
shall include all necessary supportive activities related to the preparation and administration of the injection, including glucose testing and monitoring.

(d) Notwithstanding Part 5.5 (commencing with Section 17700) of Division 9 of, and particularly subdivision (g) of Section 17710 of, the Welfare and Institutions Code, a child’s need to receive injections pursuant to this section shall not be the sole basis for determining that the child has a medical condition requiring specialized in-home health care.

(e) This section does not supersede the requirements of Section 369.5 of the Welfare and Institutions Code, with respect to the administration of psychotropic medication to a dependent child of the court.

SEC. 13.

Section 1517 is added to the Health and Safety Code, to read:

1517.

(a) (1) Pursuant to subdivision (a) of Section 16519.5 of the Welfare and Institutions Code, the State Department of Social Services, shall implement a unified, family friendly, and child-centered resource family approval process to replace the existing multiple processes for licensing foster family homes, approving relatives and nonrelative extended family members as foster care providers, and approving adoptive families.

(2) For purposes of this section, a “resource family” means an individual or couple that has successfully met both the home
environment assessment and the permanency assessment criteria, as set forth in Section 16519.5 of the Welfare and Institutions Code, necessary for providing care for a related or unrelated child who is under the jurisdiction of the juvenile court, or otherwise in the care of a county child welfare agency or probation department.

(b) A foster family agency that is selected and authorized to participate in early implementation of the resource family approval program, pursuant to subdivision (t) of Section 16519.5 of the Welfare and Institutions Code, shall comply with the provisions of this section.

(1) Notwithstanding any other law, the foster family agency shall require its applicants and resource families to meet the resource family approval standards set forth
in Section 16519.5 of the Welfare and Institutions Code, the written directives adopted thereto, and other applicable laws prior to approval and in order to maintain approval.

(2) The foster family agency shall be responsible for all of the following:

(A) Complying with the applicable provisions of this chapter, the regulations for foster family agencies, the resource family approval standards and requirements set forth in Section 16519.5 of the Welfare and Institutions Code, and the applicable written directives adopted thereto as directed by the department.

(B) Implementing the requirements for the resource family approval and utilizing standardized documentation established by the department.

(C) Ensuring staff have the education and experience necessary to complete the home environment and psychosocial assessments competently.

(D) Taking the following actions, as applicable:

(i) Approving or denying resource family applications.

(ii) Rescinding approvals of resource families.

(E) Providing to the department a log of resource families that were approved or rescinded during the month by the 10th day of the following month. For purposes of subdivision (d) of Section 1536, a certified family home includes a resource family approved by the foster family agency pursuant to this
section.

(F) Updating resource family approval annually.

(G) Monitoring resource families through all of the following:

(i) Ensuring that social workers who identify a condition in the home that may not meet the resource family approval standards while in the course of a routine visit to children subsequently placed with a resource family take appropriate action as needed.

(ii) Requiring resource families to comply with corrective action plans as necessary to correct identified deficiencies. If corrective action is not completed as specified in the plan, the foster family agency or the department may rescind the approval of the resource family in accordance with
the written directives adopted pursuant to Section 16519.5 of the Welfare and Institutions Code.

(iii) Requiring resource families to report to the foster family agency any incidents as specified in the written directives adopted pursuant to Section 16519.5 of the Welfare and Institutions Code.

(H) Performing corrective action as required by the department.

(I) Submitting information and data that the department determines is necessary to study, monitor, and prepare the report specified in paragraph (9) of subdivision (f) of Section 16519.5 of the Welfare and Institutions Code.

(J) Ensuring resource family applicants and resource families meet the training requirements
set forth in paragraphs (12) to (14), inclusive, of subdivisions (g) and (h) of Section 16519.5 of the Welfare and Institutions Code.

(c) In addition to subdivision (f) of Section 16519.5 of the Welfare and Institutions Code, the State Department of Social Services shall be responsible for all of the following:

(1) Investigating all complaints against a resource family approved by a foster family agency and taking any action it deems necessary. This shall include investigating any incidents reported about a resource family indicating that the approval standard is not being maintained. Complaint investigations shall be conducted in accordance with the written directives adopted pursuant to Section 16519.5 of the Welfare and Institutions Code.

(2) Rescinding approvals of a resource family approved by a foster family agency.

(3) Excluding a resource family parent or other individual from presence in a resource family home or licensed community care facility, from being a member of the board of directors, an executive director, or an officer of a licensed community care facility, or prohibiting a licensed community care facility from employing the resource family parent or other individual, if appropriate.

(4) Issuing a temporary suspension order that suspends the resource family approval prior to a hearing, when urgent action is needed to protect a child or nonminor dependent from physical or mental abuse, abandonment, or any other substantial threat to health or safety.

(d) The department may enter and inspect the home of a resource family approved by a foster family agency to secure compliance with the resource family approval standards, investigate a complaint or incident, or ensure the quality of care provided.

(e) Nothing in this section or Section 16519.5 of the Welfare and Institutions Code limits the authority of the department to inspect, evaluate, investigate a complaint or incident, or initiate a disciplinary action against a foster family agency pursuant to this chapter or to take any action it may deem necessary for the health and safety of children placed with the foster family agency.

(f) For purposes of paragraph (3) of subdivision (b) of Section 1523.1, a certified family home
includes a resource family approved by a foster family agency pursuant to this section.

(g) (1) On and after January 1, 2017, all licensed foster family agencies shall approve resource families in lieu of certifying foster homes. A foster family agency shall require its applicants and resource families to meet the resource family approval standards and requirements set forth in Section 16519.5 of the Welfare and Institutions Code, the written directives adopted thereto, and other applicable laws prior to approval and in order to maintain approval.

(2) No later than July 1, 2017, each foster family agency shall provide the following information to all certified family homes:

(A) A detailed description of the
resource family approval program.

(B) Notification that, in order to care for a foster child, resource family approval is required by December 31, 2019.

(C) Notification that a certificate of approval shall be forfeited by operation of law as provided for in paragraph (5).

(3) By no later than January 1, 2018, the following shall apply to all certified family homes:

(A) A certified family home with an approved adoptive home study, completed prior to January 1, 2018, shall be deemed to be an approved resource family.

(B) A certified family home that had a child in placement for any length of
time, between January 1, 2017, and December 31, 2017, inclusive, may be approved as a resource family on the date of successful completion of a psychosocial assessment pursuant to subparagraph (B) of paragraph (2) of subdivision (d) of Section 16519.5 of the Welfare and Institutions Code.

(4) A foster family agency may provide supportive services to all certified family homes with a child in placement to assist with the resource family transition and to minimize placement disruptions.

(5) All certificates of approval shall be forfeited by operation of law on December 31, 2019, except as provided in this paragraph:

(A) A certified family home that did not have a child in placement for any length of time between
January 1, 2017, and December 31, 2017, inclusive, shall forfeit by operation of law its certificate of approval on January 1, 2018.

(B) For a certified family home with a pending resource family application on December 31, 2019, the certificate of approval shall be forfeited by operation of law on the date of approval as a resource family. If approval is denied, forfeiture by operation of law shall occur on the date of completion of any proceedings required by law to ensure due process.

SEC. 14.

Section 1520.1 of the Health and Safety Code is amended to read:

1520.1.

In addition to Section 1520, applicants for a group home or short-term residential treatment center license shall meet the following requirements:

(a) (1) During the first 12 months of operation, the facility shall operate with a provisional license. After eight months of operation, the department shall conduct a comprehensive review of the facility for compliance with all applicable laws and regulations and help develop a plan of correction with the provisional licensee, if appropriate. By the end of the 12th month of operation, the department shall determine if the permanent license should be issued.

(2) If the department determines that the group home or short-term residential treatment center is in substantial compliance with licensing standards, notwithstanding Section 1525.5, the department may extend the provisional license for up to an additional six months for either of the following reasons:

(A) The group home or short-term residential treatment center requires additional time to be in full compliance with licensing standards.

(B) After 12 months of operation, the group home or short-term residential treatment center is not operating at 50 percent of its licensed capacity.

(3) By no later than the first business day of the 17th month of operation,
the department shall conduct an additional review of a facility for which a provisional license is extended pursuant to paragraph (2), in order to determine whether a permanent license should be issued.

(4) At the time of its review pursuant to paragraph (3), the department may extend the term of a provisional license for a period not to exceed two years, only if it determines that this additional time period is required to secure accreditation from an entity identified by the department pursuant to the process described in paragraph (5) of subdivision (b) of Section 11462 of the Welfare and Institutions Code and provided that all other requirements for a license have been met.

(5) The department may deny a group home or short-term residential treatment center license
application at any time during the term of the provisional license to protect the health and safety of clients. If the department denies the application, the group home or short-term residential treatment center shall cease operation immediately. Continued operation of the facility after the department denies the application or the provisional license expires shall constitute unlicensed operation.

(6) When the department notifies a city or county planning authority pursuant to subdivision (c) of Section 1520.5, the department shall briefly describe the provisional licensing process and the timelines provided for under that process, as well as provide the name, address, and telephone number of the district office licensing the facility where a complaint or comment about the group home’s or short-term residential treatment center’s
operation may be filed.

(b) (1) After the production of the booklet provided for in paragraph (2), every member of the group home’s board of directors or governing body and every member of a short-term residential treatment center’s board of directors or governing body shall, prior to becoming a member of the board of directors or governing body sign a statement that he or she understands his or her legal duties and obligations as a member of the board of directors or governing body and that the group home’s or
short-term residential treatment center’s operation is governed by laws and regulations that are enforced by the department, as set forth in the booklet. The applicant, provisional licensee, and licensee shall have this statement available for inspection by the department. For members of the board of directors or governing body when the booklet is produced, the licensee shall obtain this statement by the next scheduled meeting of the board of directors or governing body. Compliance with this paragraph shall be a condition of licensure.

(2) The department shall distribute to every group home provider and short-term residential treatment center provider, respectively, detailed information designed to educate members of the group home provider’s or short-term residential treatment center provider’s board of directors or
governing body of their roles and
responsibilities as members of a public benefit corporation under the laws of this state. The information shall be included in a booklet, may be revised as deemed necessary by the department, and shall include, but not be limited to, all of the following:

(A) The financial responsibilities of a member of the board of directors or governing body.

(B) Disclosure requirements for self-dealing transactions.

(C) Legal requirements pertaining to articles of incorporation, bylaws, length of member terms, voting procedures, board or governing body meetings, quorums, minutes of meetings, and, as provided for in subdivision (f), member duties.

(D) A general
overview of the laws and regulations governing the group home’s or short-term residential treatment center’s
operation that are enforced by the department.

(c) All financial records submitted by a facility to the department, or that are submitted as part of an audit of the facility, including, but not limited to, employee timecards and timesheets, shall be signed and dated by the employee and by the group home representative or short-term residential treatment center representative who is responsible for ensuring the accuracy of the information contained in the record, or when a time clock is used, the payroll register shall be signed and dated, and those financial records shall contain an affirmative statement that the signatories understand that the information contained in the document is correct to the best of their knowledge and that submission of false or misleading information may be prosecuted as a crime.

(d) An applicant, provisional licensee, or licensee shall maintain, submit, and sign financial documents to verify the legitimacy and accuracy of these documents. These documents include, but are not limited to, the group home or short-term residential treatment center application, any financial documents and plans of corrections submitted to the department, and time sheets.

(e) (1) It is the intent of the Legislature that a group home or short-term residential treatment center have either representatives on its board of directors, as listed in paragraph (2), or a community advisory board, that meets at least annually.

(2) The representatives on the board of directors or the community advisory board
members should consist of at least the following persons:

(A) A member of the facility’s board of directors.

(B) Members of the community where the facility is located.

(C) Neighbors of the facility.

(D) Current or former clients of the facility.

(E) A representative from a local law enforcement or other city or county representative.

(f) Each group home or short-term residential treatment center provider shall schedule and conduct quarterly meetings of its board of directors or governing body. During these quarterly meetings, the board of
directors or governing body shall review and discuss licensing reports, financial and program audit reports of its group home or short-term residential treatment center operations, special incident reports, and any administrative action against the licensee or its employees. The minutes shall reflect the board’s or governing body’s discussion of these documents and the group home’s or short-term residential treatment center’s operation. The licensee shall make available the minutes of group home’s or short-term residential treatment center’s board of directors or governing body meetings to the department.

SEC. 15.

Section 1520.5 of the Health and Safety Code is amended to read:

1520.5.

(a) The Legislature hereby declares it to be the policy of the state to prevent overconcentrations of residential facilities that impair the integrity of residential neighborhoods. Therefore, the department shall deny an application for a new residential facility license if the department determines that the location is in a proximity to an existing residential facility that would result in overconcentration.

(b) As used in this section, “overconcentration” means that if a new license is issued, there will be residential facilities that are separated by a distance of 300 feet or less, as measured from any point upon the outside walls of the structures
housing those facilities. Based on special local needs and conditions, the department may approve a separation distance of less than 300 feet with the approval of the city or county in which the proposed facility will be located.

(c) At least 45 days prior to approving any application for a new residential facility, the department, or county licensing agency, shall notify, in writing, the planning agency of the city, if the facility is to be located in the city, or the planning agency of the county, if the facility is to be located in an unincorporated area, of the proposed location of the facility.

(d) Any city or county may request denial of the license applied for on the basis of overconcentration of residential facilities.

(e) Nothing in this section authorizes the department, on the basis of overconcentration, to refuse to grant a license upon a change of ownership of an existing residential facility when there is no change in the location of the facility.

(f) Foster family homes and residential facilities for the elderly shall not be considered in determining overconcentration of residential facilities, and license applications for those facilities shall not be denied upon the basis of overconcentration.

(g) Transitional shelter care
facilities and temporary shelter care facilities shall not be considered in determining overconcentration of residential facilities, and license applications for those facilities shall not be denied upon the basis of overconcentration.

SEC. 16.

Section 1522.2 of the Health and Safety Code is amended to read:

1522.2.

If a local law enforcement agency, a probation officer, or a local department or agency that provides social services becomes aware that an employee of a community treatment facility, a day treatment facility, a group home, a short-term residential treatment center, or a foster family agency has been arrested for child abuse, as defined in Section 11165.6 of the Penal Code, after determining that the potential for abuse is present and that the employee is free to return to the facility where children are present, the local law enforcement agency, probation officer, or local department or agency shall notify the licensee of the charge of abuse.

SEC. 17.

Section 1522.4 of the Health and Safety Code is amended to read:

1522.4.

(a) In addition to any other requirements of this chapter and except for foster family homes, small family homes, and certified family homes of foster family agencies, all of the following apply to any community care facility providing 24-hour care for children:

(1) The facility shall have one or more facility managers. “Facility manager,” as used in this section, means a person on the premises with the authority and responsibility necessary to manage and control the day-to-day operation of a community care facility and supervise the clients. The facility manager, licensee, and administrator, or any combination thereof, may be the same person provided
he or she meets all applicable requirements. If the administrator is also the facility manager for the same facility, this person shall be limited to the administration and management of only one facility.

(2) The facility manager shall have at least one year of experience working with the client group served, or equivalent education or experience, as determined by the department.

(3) A facility manager shall be at the facility at all times when one or more clients are present. To ensure adequate supervision of clients when clients are at the facility outside of their normal schedule, a current telephone number where the facility manager can be reached shall be provided to the clients, licensing agency, school, and any other agency or person as the department determines is
necessary. The facility manager shall instruct these agencies and individuals to notify him or her when clients will be returning to the facility outside of the normal hours.

(4) The Legislature intends to upgrade the quality of care in licensed facilities. For the purposes of Sections 1533 and 1534, the licensed facility shall be inspected and evaluated for quality of care at least once each year, without advance notice and as often as necessary, without advance notice, to ensure the quality of care being provided.

Paragraphs (1), (2), and (3) shall apply only to new facilities licensed for six or fewer children which apply for a license after January 1, 1985, and all other new facilities licensed for seven or more children which apply for a license after January 1, 1988. Existing facilities licensed for
seven or more children shall comply by January 1, 1989.

(b) No employee of the state or county employed in the administration of this chapter or employed in a position that is in any way concerned with facilities licensed under this chapter shall hold a license or have a direct or indirect financial interest in a facility described in subdivision (a).

The department, by regulation, shall make the determination pursuant to the purposes of this section and chapter, as to what employment is in the administration of this chapter or in any way concerned with facilities licensed under this chapter and what financial interest is direct or indirect.

This subdivision does not prohibit the state or county from securing a license for, or operating, a facility that is
otherwise required to be licensed under this chapter.

(c) (1) No group home, short-term residential treatment center, or foster family agency licensee, or employee, member of the board of directors, or officer of a group home, short-term residential treatment center, or foster family agency licensee, shall offer gifts or other remuneration of any type to any employee of the State Department of Social Services or placement agency that exceeds the monetary limits for gifts to employees of the State of California pursuant to Title 9 (commencing with Section 81000) of the Government Code and regulations adopted thereunder by the Fair Political Practices Commission.

(2) No employee of the department or a placement agency shall accept any gift or other
remuneration of any type from a group home, short-term residential treatment center, or foster family agency licensee or employee, member of the board of directors, or officer of a group home, short-term residential treatment center, or foster family agency licensee that exceeds the monetary limits for gifts to employees of the State of California in Title 9 (commencing with Section 81000) of the Government Code and regulations adopted thereunder by the Fair Political Practices Commission.

(3) Violation of this subdivision is punishable as a misdemeanor.

SEC. 18.

Section 1522.41 of the Health and Safety Code is amended to read:

1522.41.

(a) (1) The department, in consultation and collaboration with county placement officials, group home provider organizations, the Director of Health Care Services, and the Director of Developmental Services, shall develop and establish an administrator certification training program to ensure that administrators of group home facilities have appropriate training to provide the care and services for which a license or certificate is issued.

(2) The department shall develop and establish an administrator certification training program to ensure that administrators of short-term residential treatment center facilities have appropriate training to provide the
care and services for which a license or certificate is issued.

(b) (1) In addition to any other requirements or qualifications required by the department, an administrator of a group home or short-term residential treatment center shall successfully complete a specified department-approved training certification program, pursuant to subdivision (c), prior to employment.

(2) In those cases where the individual is both the licensee and the administrator of a facility, the individual shall comply with all of the licensee and administrator requirements of this section.

(3) Failure to comply with this section shall constitute cause for revocation of the license of the facility.

(4) The licensee shall notify the department within 10 days of any change in administrators.

(c) (1) The administrator certification programs for group homes shall require a minimum of 40 hours of classroom instruction that provides training on a uniform core of knowledge in each of the following areas:

(A) Laws, regulations, and policies and procedural standards that impact the operations of the type of facility for which the applicant will be an administrator.

(B) Business operations.

(C) Management and supervision of staff.

(D) Psychosocial and educational needs of the facility residents.

(E) Community and support services.

(F) Physical needs of facility residents.

(G) Assistance with self-administration, storage, misuse, and interaction of medication used by facility residents.

(H) Resident admission, retention, and assessment procedures, including the right of a foster child to have fair and equal access to all available services, placement, care, treatment, and benefits, and to not be subjected to discrimination or harassment on the basis of actual or perceived race, ethnic group identification, ancestry, national origin, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender
identity, mental or physical disability, or HIV status.

(I) Instruction on cultural competency and sensitivity and related best practices for providing adequate care for children across diverse ethnic and racial backgrounds, as well as children identifying as lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender.

(J) Nonviolent emergency intervention and reporting requirements.

(K) Basic instruction on the existing laws and procedures regarding the safety of foster youth at school and the ensuring of a harassment- and violence-free school environment contained in Article 3.6 (commencing with Section 32228) of Chapter 2 of Part 19 of Division 1 of Title 1 of the Education Code.

(2) The administrator certification programs for short-term residential treatment centers shall require a minimum of 40 hours of classroom instruction that provides training on a uniform core of knowledge in each of the following areas:

(A) Laws, regulations, and policies and procedural standards that impact the operations of the type of facility for which the applicant will be an administrator.

(B) Business operations and management and supervision of staff, including staff training.

(E) Community and support services, including accessing local behavioral and mental health supports and interventions, substance use disorder treatments, and culturally relevant services, as appropriate.

(G) Admission, retention, and assessment procedures, including the
right of a foster child to have fair and equal access to all available services, placement, care, treatment, and benefits, and to not be subjected to discrimination or harassment on the basis of actual or perceived race, ethnic group identification, ancestry, national origin, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, mental or physical disability, or HIV status.

(H) The federal Indian Child Welfare Act (25 U.S.C Sec. 1901 et seq.), its historical significance, the rights of children covered by the act, and the best interests of Indian children as including culturally appropriate, child-centered practices that respect Native American history, culture, retention of tribal membership, and connection to the tribal community and traditions.

(I) Instruction on cultural
competency and sensitivity and related best practices for providing adequate care for children across diverse ethnic and racial backgrounds, as well as children identifying as lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender.

(J) Nonviolent emergency intervention and reporting requirements.

(K) Basic instruction on the existing laws and procedures regarding the safety of foster youth at school and the ensuring of a harassment- and violence-free school environment contained in Article 3.6 (commencing with Section 32228) of Chapter 2 of Part 19 of Division 1 of Title 1 of the Education Code.

(d) Administrators who possess a valid group home license, issued by the department, are exempt from completing an approved initial
certification training program and taking a written test, provided the individual completes 12 hours of classroom instruction in the following uniform core of knowledge areas:

(1) Laws, regulations, and policies and procedural standards that impact the operations of a short-term residential treatment center.

(3) Admission, retention, and assessment procedures, including the right of a foster child to have fair
and equal access to all available services, placement, care, treatment, and benefits, and to not be subjected to discrimination or harassment on the basis of actual or perceived race, ethnic group identification, ancestry, national origin, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, mental or physical disability, or HIV status.

(4) The federal Indian Child Welfare Act (25 U.S.C. Sec. 1901 et seq.), its historical significance, the rights of children covered by the act, and the best interests of Indian children as including culturally appropriate, child-centered practices that respect Native American history, culture, retention of tribal membership, and connection to the tribal community and traditions.

(5) Instruction on cultural competency and sensitivity and related best
practices for providing adequate care for children across diverse ethnic and racial backgrounds, as well as children identifying as lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender.

(e) Individuals applying for administrator certification under this section shall successfully complete an approved administrator certification training program, pass a written test administered by the department within 60 days of completing the program, and submit to the department the documentation required by subdivision (f) within 30 days after being notified of having passed the test. The department may extend these time deadlines for good cause. The
department shall notify the applicant of his or her test results within 30 days of administering the test.

(f) The department shall not begin the process of issuing a certificate until receipt of all of the following:

(1) A certificate of completion of the administrator training required pursuant to this chapter.

(2) The fee required for issuance of the certificate. A fee of one hundred dollars ($100) shall be charged by the department to cover the costs of processing the application for certification.

(3) Documentation from the applicant that he or she has passed the written test.

(4) Submission of
fingerprints pursuant to Section 1522. The department may waive the submission for those persons who have a current clearance on file.

(5) That person is at least 21 years of age.

(g) It shall be unlawful for any person not certified under this section to hold himself or herself out as a certified administrator of a group home or short-term residential treatment center. Any person willfully making any false representation as being a certified administrator or facility manager is guilty of a misdemeanor.

(h) (1) Certificates issued under this section shall be renewed every two years and renewal shall be conditional upon the certificate holder submitting documentation of completion of 40 hours of
continuing education related to the core of knowledge specified in subdivision (c). No more than one-half of the required 40 hours of continuing education necessary to renew the certificate may be satisfied through online courses. All other continuing education hours shall be completed in a classroom setting. For purposes of this section, an individual who is a group home or short-term residential treatment center administrator and who is required to complete the continuing education hours required by the regulations of the State Department of Developmental Services, and approved by the regional center, may have up to 24 of the required continuing education course hours credited toward the 40-hour continuing education requirement of this section. The department shall accept for certification, community college course hours approved by the regional centers.

(2) Every administrator of a group home or short-term residential treatment center shall complete the continuing education requirements of this subdivision.

(3) Certificates issued under this section shall expire every two years on the anniversary date of the initial issuance of the certificate, except that any administrator receiving his or her initial certification on or after July 1, 1999, shall make an irrevocable election to have his or her recertification date for any subsequent recertification either on the date two years from the date of issuance of the certificate or on the individual’s birthday during the second calendar year following certification. The department shall send a renewal notice to the certificate holder 90 days prior to the expiration date of the certificate. If the certificate is not renewed prior to its
expiration date, reinstatement shall only be permitted after the certificate holder has paid a delinquency fee equal to three times the renewal fee and has provided evidence of completion of the continuing education required.

(4) To renew a certificate, the certificate holder shall, on or before the certificate expiration date, request renewal by submitting to the department documentation of completion of the required continuing education courses and pay the renewal fee of one hundred dollars ($100), irrespective of receipt of the department’s notification of the renewal. A renewal request postmarked on or before the expiration of the certificate shall be proof of compliance with this paragraph.

(5) A suspended or revoked certificate shall be subject to expiration as provided
for in this section. If reinstatement of the certificate is approved by the department, the certificate holder, as a condition precedent to reinstatement, shall submit proof of compliance with paragraphs (1) and (2) of this subdivision, and shall pay a fee in an amount equal to the renewal fee, plus the delinquency fee, if any, accrued at the time of its revocation or suspension. Delinquency fees, if any, accrued subsequent to the time of its revocation or suspension and prior to an order for reinstatement, shall be waived for a period of 12 months to allow the individual sufficient time to complete the required continuing education units and to submit the required documentation.
Individuals whose certificates will expire within 90 days after the order for reinstatement may be granted a three-month extension to renew their certificates during which time the delinquency fees shall not accrue.

(6) A certificate that is not renewed within four years after its expiration shall not be renewed, restored, reissued, or reinstated except upon completion of a certification training program, passing any test that may be required of an applicant for a new certificate
at that time, and paying the appropriate fees provided for in this section.

(7) A fee of twenty-five dollars ($25) shall be charged for the reissuance of a lost certificate.

(8) A certificate holder shall inform the department of his or her employment status and change of mailing address within 30 days of any change.

(i) Unless otherwise ordered by the department, the certificate shall be considered forfeited under either of the following conditions:

(1) The department has revoked any license held by the administrator after the department issued the certificate.

(2) The
department has issued an exclusion order against the administrator pursuant to Section 1558, 1568.092, 1569.58, or
1596.8897, after the department issued the certificate, and the administrator did not appeal the exclusion order or, after the appeal, the department issued a decision and order that upheld the exclusion order.

(j) (1) The department, in consultation and collaboration with county placement officials, provider organizations, the State Department of Health Care Services, and the State Department of Developmental Services, shall establish, by regulation, the program content, the testing instrument, the process for approving administrator certification training programs, and criteria to be used in authorizing individuals, organizations, or educational institutions to conduct certification training programs and continuing education courses. The department may also grant continuing education hours for
continuing courses offered by accredited educational institutions that are consistent with the requirements in this section. The department may deny vendor approval to any agency or person in any of the following circumstances:

(A) The applicant has not provided the department with evidence satisfactory to the department of the ability of the applicant to satisfy the requirements of vendorization set out in the regulations adopted by the department.

(B) The applicant person or agency has a conflict of interest in that the person or agency places its clients in group homes or short-term residential treatment centers.

(C) The applicant public or private agency has a conflict of interest in that the agency is mandated
to place clients in group homes or short-term residential treatment centers and to pay directly for the services. The department may deny vendorization to this type of agency only as long as there are other vendor programs available to conduct the certification training programs and conduct education courses.

(2) The department may authorize vendors to conduct the administrator’s certification training program pursuant to this section. The department shall conduct the written test pursuant to regulations adopted by the department.

(4) The department may inspect administrator certification training programs and continuing
education courses, including online courses, at no charge to the department, to determine if content and teaching methods comply with regulations. If the department determines that any vendor is not complying with the requirements of this section, the department shall take appropriate action to bring the program into compliance, which may include removing the vendor from the approved list.

(5) The department shall establish reasonable procedures and timeframes not to exceed 30 days for the approval of vendor training programs.

(6) The department may charge a reasonable fee, not to exceed one hundred fifty dollars ($150) every two years, to certification program vendors for review and approval of the initial 40-hour training program pursuant to subdivision (c). The department may
also charge the vendor a fee, not to exceed one hundred dollars ($100) every two years, for the review and approval of the continuing education courses needed for recertification pursuant to this subdivision.

(7) (A) A vendor of online programs for continuing education shall ensure that each online course contains all of the following:

(i) An interactive portion in which the participant receives feedback, through online communication, based on input from the participant.

(ii) Required use of a personal identification number or personal identification information to confirm the identity of the participant.

(iii) A final screen displaying a
printable statement, to be signed by the participant, certifying that the identified participant completed the course. The vendor shall obtain a copy of the final screen statement with the original signature of the participant prior to the issuance of a certificate of completion. The signed statement of completion shall be maintained by the vendor for a period of three years and be available to the department upon demand. Any person who certifies as true any material matter pursuant to this clause that he or she knows to be false is guilty of a misdemeanor.

(B) Nothing in this subdivision shall prohibit the department from approving online programs for continuing education that do not meet the requirements of subparagraph (A) if the vendor demonstrates to the department’s satisfaction that, through advanced technology, the course and the
course delivery meet the requirements of this section.

(k) The department shall establish a registry for holders of certificates that shall include, at a minimum, information on employment status and criminal record clearance.

(l) Notwithstanding any law to the contrary, vendors approved by the department who exclusively provide either initial or continuing education courses for certification of administrators of a group home or short-term residential treatment center as
defined by regulations of the department, an adult residential facility as defined by regulations of the department, or a residential care facility for the elderly as defined in subdivision (k) of Section 1569.2, shall be regulated solely by the department pursuant to this chapter. No other state or local governmental entity shall be responsible for regulating the activity of those vendors.

SEC. 18.5.

Section 1522.41 of the Health and Safety Code is amended to read:

1522.41.

(a) (1) The department, in consultation and collaboration with county placement officials, group home provider organizations, the Director of Health Care Services, and the Director of Developmental Services, shall develop and establish
an administrator
certification training program to ensure that administrators of group home facilities have appropriate training to provide the care and services for which a license or certificate is issued.

(2) The department shall develop and establish an administrator certification training program to ensure that administrators of short-term residential treatment center facilities have appropriate training to provide the care and services for which a license or certificate is issued.

(b) (1) In addition to any other requirements or qualifications required by the department, an administrator of a group home
or short-term residential treatment center shall successfully complete a specified department-approved training certification program, pursuant to subdivision (c), prior to employment.

(2) In those cases when the individual is both the licensee and the administrator of a facility, the individual shall comply with all of the licensee and administrator requirements of this section.

(3) Failure to comply with this section shall constitute cause for revocation of the license of the facility.

(4) The licensee shall notify the department within 10 days of any change in administrators.

(c) (1) The administrator
certification programs for group homes shall require a minimum of 40 hours of classroom instruction that provides training on a uniform core of knowledge in each of the following areas:

(A) Laws, regulations, and policies and procedural standards that impact the operations of the type of facility for which the applicant will be an administrator.

(B) Business operations.

(C) Management and supervision of staff.

(D) Psychosocial and educational needs of the facility
residents, including, but not limited to, the information described in subdivision (d) of Section 16501.4 of the Welfare and Institutions Code.

(E) Community and support services.

(F) Physical needs of facility residents.

(G) Assistance with self-administration, storage, misuse, and interaction of medication used by facility residents.

(H) Resident admission, retention, and assessment procedures, including the right of a foster child to have fair and equal access to all available services, placement, care, treatment, and benefits, and to not be subjected to discrimination or harassment on the basis of actual or perceived race, ethnic group identification, ancestry, national origin, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, mental or physical disability, or HIV status.

(I) Instruction on cultural competency and sensitivity
and related best practices for providing adequate care for children across diverse ethnic and racial backgrounds, as well as children identifying as lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender.

(J) Nonviolent
emergency intervention and reporting requirements.

(K) Basic instruction on the existing laws and procedures regarding the safety of foster youth at school and the ensuring of a harassment- and violence-free school environment contained in Article 3.6 (commencing with Section 32228) of Chapter 2 of Part 19 of Division 1 of Title 1 of the Education Code.

(2) The administrator certification programs for short-term residential treatment centers shall require a minimum of 40 hours of classroom instruction that provides training on a uniform core of knowledge in each of the following areas:

(A) Laws, regulations, and policies and procedural standards that impact the operations of the type of facility for which the applicant will be an administrator.

(B) Business operations and management and supervision of staff, including staff training.

(E) Community and support services, including accessing local behavioral and mental health supports and interventions, substance use disorder treatments, and culturally relevant services, as appropriate.

(G) Admission, retention, and assessment procedures, including the right of a foster child to have fair and equal access to all available services, placement, care, treatment, and benefits, and to not be subjected to discrimination or harassment on the basis of actual or perceived
race, ethnic group identification, ancestry, national origin, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, mental or physical disability, or HIV status.

(H) The federal Indian Child Welfare Act (25 U.S.C Sec. 1901 et seq.), its historical significance, the rights of children covered by the act, and the best interests of Indian children as including culturally appropriate, child-centered practices that respect Native American history, culture, retention of tribal membership, and connection to the tribal community and traditions.

(I) Instruction on cultural competency and sensitivity and related best practices for providing adequate care for children across diverse ethnic and racial backgrounds, as well as children identifying as lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender.

(J) Nonviolent emergency
intervention and reporting requirements.

(K) Basic instruction on the existing laws and procedures regarding the safety of foster youth at school and the ensuring of a harassment- and violence-free school environment contained in Article 3.6 (commencing with Section 32228) of Chapter 2 of Part 19 of Division 1 of Title 1 of the Education Code.

(d) Administrators who possess a valid group home license, issued by the department, are exempt from completing an approved initial certification training program and taking a written test, provided the individual completes 12 hours of classroom instruction in the following uniform core of knowledge areas:

(1) Laws, regulations, and policies and procedural standards that impact the operations of a short-term residential treatment center.

(3) Admission, retention, and assessment procedures, including the right of a foster child to have fair and equal access to all available services, placement, care, treatment, and benefits, and to not be subjected to discrimination or harassment on the basis of actual or perceived race, ethnic group identification, ancestry, national origin, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, mental or physical disability, or HIV status.

(4) The federal Indian Child Welfare Act (25 U.S.C. Sec. 1901 et seq.), its historical significance, the rights of children covered by the act, and the best interests of Indian children as including culturally appropriate, child-centered practices that respect Native American history, culture, retention of tribal membership, and connection to the tribal community and traditions.

(5) Instruction on cultural competency and sensitivity and related best practices for providing adequate care for children across diverse ethnic and racial backgrounds, as well as children identifying as lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender.

(e) Individuals applying for administrator
certification under this section shall successfully complete an approved administrator certification training program, pass a written test administered by the department within 60 days of completing the program, and submit to the department the documentation required by subdivision (f) within 30 days after being notified of having passed the test. The department may extend these time deadlines for good cause. The department shall notify the applicant of his or her test results within 30 days of administering the test.

(f) The department shall not begin the process of issuing a certificate until receipt of all of the following:

(1) A certificate of completion of the administrator training required pursuant to this chapter.

(2) The fee required for issuance of the certificate. A fee of one hundred dollars ($100) shall be charged by the department to cover the costs of processing the application for certification.

(3) Documentation from the applicant that he or she has passed the written test.

(4) Submission of fingerprints pursuant to Section 1522. The department may waive the submission for those
persons who have a current clearance on file.

(5) That person is at least 21 years of age.

(g) It shall be unlawful for any person not certified under this section to hold himself or herself out as a certified administrator of a group home or short-term residential treatment center. Any person willfully making any false representation as being a certified administrator or facility manager is guilty of a
misdemeanor.

(h) (1) Certificates issued under this section shall be renewed every two years and renewal shall be conditional upon the certificate holder submitting documentation of completion of 40 hours of continuing education related to the core of knowledge specified in subdivision (c). No more than one-half of the required 40 hours of continuing education necessary to renew the certificate may be satisfied through online courses. All other continuing education hours shall be completed in a classroom setting. For purposes of this section, an individual who is a group home
or short-term residential treatment center administrator and who is required to complete the continuing education hours required by the regulations of the State Department of Developmental Services, and approved by the regional center, may have up to 24 of the required continuing education course hours credited toward the 40-hour continuing education requirement of this section. The department shall accept for certification, community college course hours approved by the regional centers.

(2) Every administrator of a group home or short-term residential treatment center shall complete the continuing education requirements of this subdivision.

(3) Certificates issued under this section shall expire every two years on the anniversary date of the initial issuance of the certificate, except that any administrator receiving his or her initial certification on or after July 1, 1999, shall make an irrevocable election to have his or her recertification date for any subsequent recertification either on the date two years from the date of issuance of the certificate or on the individual’s birthday during the second calendar year following certification. The department shall send
a renewal notice to the certificate holder 90 days prior to the expiration date of the certificate. If the certificate is not renewed prior to its expiration date, reinstatement shall only be permitted after the certificate holder has paid a delinquency fee equal to three times the renewal fee and has provided evidence of completion of the continuing education required.

(4) To renew a certificate, the certificate holder shall, on or before the certificate expiration date, request renewal by submitting to the department documentation of completion of the required continuing education courses and pay the renewal fee of one hundred dollars ($100), irrespective of receipt of the department’s notification of the renewal. A renewal request postmarked on or before the expiration of the certificate shall be proof of compliance with this paragraph.

(5) A suspended or revoked certificate
shall be subject to expiration as provided for in this section. If reinstatement of the certificate is approved by the department, the certificate holder, as a condition precedent to reinstatement, shall submit proof of compliance with paragraphs (1) and (2) of this subdivision, and shall pay a fee in an amount equal to the renewal fee, plus the delinquency fee, if any, accrued at the time of its revocation or suspension. Delinquency fees, if any, accrued subsequent to the time of its revocation or suspension and prior to an order for reinstatement, shall be waived for a period of 12 months to allow the individual sufficient time to complete the required continuing education units and to submit the required documentation. Individuals whose certificates will expire within 90 days after the order for
reinstatement may be granted a three-month extension to renew their certificates during which time the delinquency fees shall not accrue.

(6) A certificate that is not renewed within four years after its expiration shall not be renewed, restored, reissued, or reinstated except upon completion of a certification training program, passing any test that may be required of an applicant for a new certificate at that time, and paying the appropriate fees provided for in this section.

(7) A fee of twenty-five dollars ($25) shall be charged for the reissuance of a lost certificate.

(8) A certificate holder shall inform the department of his or her employment status and change of mailing address within 30 days of any change.

(i) Unless otherwise ordered by the department, the certificate shall be considered forfeited under either of the following conditions:

(1) The department has revoked any license held by the administrator after the department issued the certificate.

(2) The department has issued an exclusion order against the administrator pursuant to Section 1558, 1568.092, 1569.58, or 1596.8897, after the department issued the certificate, and the administrator did not appeal the exclusion order or, after the appeal, the department issued a decision and order that upheld the exclusion order.

(j) (1) The department, in consultation and collaboration with county placement officials, provider organizations, the State Department of Health Care Services, and the State Department of Developmental Services, shall establish, by regulation, the program content, the testing instrument, the process for approving administrator certification training programs, and criteria to be used in authorizing individuals, organizations, or educational institutions to conduct certification training programs and continuing education courses. The department may also grant continuing education hours for continuing courses offered by accredited educational institutions that are consistent with the requirements in this section.
The department may deny vendor approval to any agency or person in any of the following circumstances:

(A) The applicant has not provided the department with evidence satisfactory to the department of the ability of the applicant to satisfy the requirements of vendorization set out in the regulations adopted by the department.

(B) The applicant person or agency has a conflict of interest in that the person or agency places its clients in group homes or short-term
residential treatment centers.

(C) The applicant public or private agency has a conflict of interest in that the agency is mandated to place clients in group homes or short-term residential treatment centers and to pay directly for the services. The department may deny vendorization to this type of agency only as long as there are other vendor programs available to conduct the certification training programs and conduct education courses.

(2) The department may authorize vendors to conduct the administrator’s certification training program pursuant to this section. The department shall conduct the written test pursuant to regulations adopted by the department.

(4) The department may inspect administrator certification training programs and continuing education courses, including online courses, at no charge to the department, to determine if content and teaching methods comply with regulations. If the department determines that any vendor is not complying with the requirements of this section, the department shall take appropriate action to bring the program into compliance, which may include removing the vendor from the approved list.

(5) The department shall establish reasonable procedures and timeframes not to exceed 30 days for the approval of vendor training programs.

(6) The department may
charge a reasonable fee, not to exceed one hundred fifty dollars ($150) every two years, to certification program vendors for review and approval of the initial 40-hour training program pursuant to subdivision (c). The department may also charge the vendor a fee, not to exceed one hundred dollars ($100) every two years, for the review and approval of the continuing education courses needed for recertification pursuant to this subdivision.

(7) (A) A vendor of online programs for continuing education shall ensure that each online course contains all of the following:

(i) An interactive portion in which the participant receives feedback, through online communication, based on input from the participant.

(ii) Required use of a personal identification number or personal identification information to
confirm the identity of the participant.

(iii) A final screen displaying a printable statement, to be signed by the participant, certifying that the identified participant completed the course. The vendor shall obtain a copy of the final screen statement with the original signature of the participant prior to the issuance of a certificate of completion. The signed statement of completion shall be maintained by the vendor for a period of three years and be available to the department upon demand. Any person who certifies as true any material matter pursuant to this clause that he or she knows to be false is guilty of a misdemeanor.

(B) Nothing in this subdivision shall prohibit the department from approving online programs for continuing education that do not meet the requirements of subparagraph (A) if the vendor demonstrates to the department’s satisfaction that, through advanced
technology, the course and the course delivery meet the requirements of this section.

(k) The department shall establish a registry for holders of certificates that shall include, at a minimum, information on employment status and criminal record clearance.

(l) Notwithstanding any law to the contrary, vendors approved by the department who exclusively provide either initial or continuing education courses for certification of administrators of a group home or short-term residential treatment center as defined by regulations of the department, an adult residential facility as defined by regulations of the department, or a residential care facility for the elderly as defined in subdivision (k) of Section 1569.2, shall be regulated solely by the department pursuant to this chapter. No other state or local
governmental entity shall be responsible for regulating the activity of those vendors.

SEC. 19.

Section 1522.43 of the Health and Safety Code is amended to read:

1522.43.

(a) (1) For the duties the department imposes on a group home administrator or short-term residential treatment center administrator in this chapter and in regulations adopted by the department, every group home and short-term residential treatment center shall state in its plan of operation, the number of hours per week that the administrator shall spend completing those duties and how the group home administrator or short-term residential treatment center administrator shall accomplish those duties, including use of support personnel.

(2) For initial applicants, the information in paragraph (1) shall be contained in the plan of
operation submitted to the department in the application.

(3) For current licensees, the licensee shall submit an amended plan of operation that contains the information required by paragraph (1) within six months of the effective date of this section. For changes in the group home administrator duties imposed by the department in this chapter or in regulations, a current licensee shall have six months after the effective date of those duties to submit an amended plan of operation to reflect the new administrator duties.

(b) (1) The department may review a group home’s or short-term residential treatment center’s plan of operation to determine if the plan of operation is sufficient to ensure that the facility will operate in compliance with applicable
licensing laws and regulations. As part of the review, the department may request that a peer review panel review the plan of operation for a group home as prescribed in paragraph (2), or for a short-term residential treatment center as prescribed in paragraph (3).

(2) The peer review panel shall consist of two representatives from the department, including one from the unit that governs programs and one from the unit that governs licensing, a qualified group home administrator, an experienced group home provider in good standing, and a member or members from the placement agency or agencies that place children in group homes, and may also include the local county behavioral health department, as appropriate.

(3) The peer review panel shall consist of two representatives from
the department, including one from the unit that governs programs and one from the unit that governs licensing, a qualified short-term residential treatment center administrator, a short-term residential treatment center provider in good standing, and a member or members from the placement agency or agencies that place children in short-term residential treatment centers, and may also include the local county behavioral health department, as appropriate.

(c) A group home or short-term residential treatment center shall develop a daily schedule of activities for the children at the facility. The facility shall have this schedule available for inspection by the department. The activities in which the children are scheduled to participate shall be designed to meet the needs of the individual child, and shall be based on that child’s needs and services
plan.

(d) The department shall establish a process, no later than January 1, 2017, for convening the peer review panel as set forth in subdivision (b) for review of the plans of operation for short-term residential treatment centers, and shall develop this process in consultation with the County Welfare Directors Association of California, Chief Probation Officers of California, County Behavioral Health Directors Association of California, and stakeholders.

SEC. 20.

Section 1524 of the Health and Safety Code is amended to read:

1524.

A license shall be forfeited by operation of law when one of the following occurs:

(a) The licensee sells or otherwise transfers the facility or facility property, except when change of ownership applies to transferring of stock when the facility is owned by a corporation, and when the transfer of stock does not constitute a majority change of ownership.

(b) The licensee surrenders the license to the department.

(c) (1) The licensee moves a facility from one location to another. The department shall develop regulations to ensure that the facilities are not
charged a full licensing fee and do not have to complete the entire application process when applying for a license for the new location.

(2) This subdivision shall not apply to a licensed foster family home, a home certified by a licensed foster family agency, or a home approved pursuant to Sections 309, 361.4, and 361.45 of the Welfare and Institutions Code. When a foster family home licensee, certified home parent, or a person approved to care for children pursuant to Sections 309, 361.4, and 361.45 of the Welfare and Institutions Code moves to a new location, the existing license, certification, or approval may be transferred to the new location. All caregivers to whom this paragraph applies shall be required to meet all applicable licensing laws and regulations at the new location.

(d) The licensee is convicted of an offense specified in Section 220, 243.4, or 264.1, or paragraph (1) of Section 273a, Section 273d, 288, or 289 of the Penal Code, or is convicted of another crime specified in subdivision (c) of Section 667.5 of the Penal Code.

(e) The licensee dies. If an adult relative notifies the department of his or her desire to continue operation of the facility and submits an application, the department shall expedite the application. The department shall promulgate regulations for expediting applications submitted pursuant to this subdivision.

(f) The licensee abandons the facility.

(g) When the certification issued by the State Department of Developmental Services to a licensee of
an Adult Residential Facility for Persons with Special Health Care Needs, licensed pursuant to Article 9 (commencing with Section 1567.50), is rescinded.

(h) When the certification issued by the State Department of
Developmental Services to a licensee of an enhanced behavioral supports home, licensed pursuant to Article 9.5 (commencing with Section 1567.61), is rescinded.

(i) When the certificate of program approval issued by the State Department of Developmental Services, pursuant to Article 8 (commencing with Section 4698) of Chapter 6 of Division 4.5 of the Welfare and Institutions Code, to a licensee of a community crisis home, licensed pursuant to Article 9.7 (commencing with Section 1567.80), is rescinded.

(j) A group home license issued to a county shall be forfeited by operation of law when the county receives a license to operate a temporary shelter care facility in accordance with Section 1530.8.

(k) A temporary shelter care facility license issued to a private, nonprofit organization under contract with a county shall be forfeited by operation of law upon termination of the contract in accordance with Section 1530.8.

(l) A foster family home license shall be forfeited by operation of law as provided in paragraph (4) of subdivision (r) of Section 16519.5 of the Welfare and Institutions Code.

SEC. 21.

Section 1524.6 of the Health and Safety Code is amended to read:

1524.6.

(a) In addition to any other requirement of this chapter, any group home or short-term residential treatment center, as defined by regulations of the department, providing care for any number of persons, that is not already subject to the requirements of Section 1524.5, shall provide a procedure approved by the licensing agency for immediate response to incidents and complaints, as defined by regulations of the department. This procedure shall include a method of ensuring that the owner, licensee, or person designated by the owner or licensee is notified of the incident or complaint, that the owner, licensee, or person designated by the owner or licensee has personally investigated the matter, and that
the person making the complaint or reporting the incident has received a written response, within 30 days of receiving the complaint, of action taken, or a reason why no action needs to be taken.

(b) In order to ensure the opportunity for complaints to be made directly to the owner, licensee, or person designated by the owner or licensee, and to provide the opportunity for the owner, licensee, or person designated by the owner or licensee to meet neighborhood residents and learn of problems in the neighborhood, any group home or short-term residential treatment center shall establish a fixed time on a periodic basis when the owner, licensee, or person designated by the owner or licensee will be present. At this fixed time, information shall be provided to neighborhood residents of the complaint procedure pursuant to Section 1538.

(c) Facilities shall establish procedures to comply with the requirements of this section on or before July 1, 2005.

(d) This section shall not apply to family homes certified by foster family agencies, foster family homes, and small family homes. It is not the intent of the Legislature that this section be applied in a way that is contrary to the child’s best interests.

SEC. 22.

Section 1525.5 of the Health and Safety Code is amended to read:

1525.5.

(a) The department may issue provisional licenses to operate community care facilities for facilities that the director determines are in substantial compliance with this chapter and the rules and regulations adopted pursuant to this chapter, provided that no life safety risks are involved, as determined by the director. In determining whether any life safety risks are involved, the director shall require completion of all applicable fire clearances and criminal record clearances as otherwise required by the department’s rules and regulations. The provisional license shall expire six months from the date of issuance, or at any earlier time as the director may determine, and may not be renewed. However, the
director may extend the term of a provisional license for an additional six months at time of application, if it is determined that more than six months will be required to achieve full compliance with licensing standards due to circumstances beyond the control of the applicant, provided all other requirements for a license have been met.

(b) This section shall not apply to foster family homes.

(c) Notwithstanding subdivision (a), the department may extend the term of a provisional license issued to a foster family agency, not to exceed two years, if it determines that this additional time is required to secure accreditation from an entity identified by the department pursuant to paragraph (8) of subdivision (b) of Section 11463 of the Welfare and Institutions Code and provided that
all other requirements for a license have been met.

SEC. 23.

Section 1529.2 of the Health and Safety Code is amended to read:

1529.2.

(a) In addition to the foster parent training provided by community colleges, foster family agencies shall provide a program of training for their certified foster families.

(b) (1) Every licensed foster parent shall complete a minimum of 12 hours of foster parent training, as prescribed in paragraph (3), before the placement of any foster children with the foster parent. In addition, a foster parent shall complete a minimum of eight hours of foster parent training annually, as prescribed in paragraph (4). No child shall be placed in a foster family home unless these requirements are met by the persons in the home who are serving as the foster parents.

(2) (A) Upon the request of the foster parent for a hardship waiver from the postplacement training requirement or a request for an extension of the deadline, the county may, at its option, on a case-by-case basis, waive the postplacement training requirement or extend any established deadline for a period not to exceed one year, if the postplacement training requirement presents a severe and unavoidable obstacle to continuing as a foster parent. Obstacles for which a county may grant a hardship waiver or extension are:

(i) Lack of access to training due to the cost or travel required.

(ii) Family emergency.

(B) Before a waiver or extension may be
granted, the foster parent should explore the opportunity of receiving training by video or written materials.

(3) The initial preplacement training shall include, but not be limited to, training courses that cover all of the following:

(A) An overview of the child protective system.

(B) The effects of child abuse and neglect on child
development.

(C) Positive discipline and the importance of self-esteem.

(D) Health issues in foster care, including, but not limited to, the authorization, uses, risks, benefits, assistance with self-administration, oversight, and monitoring of psychotropic or other medications, and trauma, mental health, and substance use disorder treatments, for children in foster care under the jurisdiction of the juvenile court, including how to access those treatments.

(E) Accessing education and health services available to foster children.

(F) The right of a foster child to have fair and equal access to all available services, placement, care, treatment, and
benefits, and to not be subjected to discrimination or harassment on the basis of actual or perceived race, ethnic group identification, ancestry, national origin, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, mental or physical disability, or HIV status.

(G) Instruction on cultural competency and sensitivity and related best practices for providing adequate care for children across diverse ethnic and racial backgrounds, as well as children identifying as lesbian, gay,
bisexual, or transgender.

(H) Basic instruction on the existing laws and procedures regarding the safety of foster youth at school and the ensuring of a harassment- and violence-free school environment contained in Article 3.6 (commencing with Section 32228) of Chapter 2 of Part 19 of Division 1 of Title 1 of the Education Code.

(4) The postplacement annual training shall include, but not be limited to, training courses that cover all of the following:

(A) Age-appropriate child development.

(B) Health issues in foster care.

(C) Positive discipline and the importance of self-esteem.

(D) Emancipation and independent living skills if a foster parent is caring for youth.

(E) The right of a foster child to have fair and equal access to all available services, placement, care, treatment, and benefits, and to not be subjected to discrimination or harassment on the basis of actual or perceived race, ethnic group identification, ancestry, national origin, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, mental or physical disability, or HIV status.

(6) A candidate for placement of foster children shall submit a certificate of training to document completion of the training requirements. The certificate shall be submitted with the initial consideration for placements and provided at the time of the annual visit by the licensing agency thereafter.

(c) Nothing in this section shall preclude a county from requiring county-provided preplacement or postplacement foster parent training in excess of the requirements in this section.

(d) This section shall remain in effect only until January 1, 2017, and as of that date is repealed, unless a later enacted statute, that is enacted before January 1, 2017, deletes or extends that date.

SEC. 23.5.

Section 1529.2 of the Health and Safety Code is amended to read:

1529.2.

(a) In addition to the foster parent training provided by community colleges, foster family agencies shall provide a program of training for their certified foster families.

(b) (1) Every licensed foster parent shall complete a minimum of 12 hours of foster parent training, as prescribed in paragraph (3), before the placement of any foster children with the foster parent. In addition, a foster parent shall complete a minimum of eight hours of foster parent training annually, as prescribed in paragraph (4). No child shall be placed in a foster family home unless these requirements are met by the persons in the home who are serving as the foster parents.

(2) (A) Upon the request of the foster parent for a hardship waiver from the postplacement training requirement or a request for an extension of the deadline, the county may, at its option, on a case-by-case basis, waive the postplacement training requirement or extend any established deadline for a period not to exceed one year, if the postplacement training requirement presents a severe and unavoidable obstacle to continuing as a foster parent. Obstacles for which a county may grant a hardship waiver or extension are:

(i) Lack of access to training due to the cost or travel required.

(ii) Family emergency.

(B) Before a waiver or extension may be granted, the foster parent should explore the opportunity of receiving training by video or written materials.

(3) The initial preplacement training shall include, but not be limited to, training courses that cover all of the following:

(A) An overview of the child protective system.

(B) The effects of child abuse and neglect on child development.

(C) Positive discipline and the importance of self-esteem.

(D) Health issues in foster care, including, but not limited to, the authorization, uses, risks, benefits, assistance with self-administration, oversight, and monitoring or psychotropic or other medications, and trauma, mental health, and substance use disorder treatments, for
children in foster care under the jurisdiction of the juvenile court, including how to access those treatments, as the information is also described in subdivision (d) of Section 16501.4 of the Welfare and Institutions Code.

(E) Accessing education and health services available to foster children.

(F) The right of a foster child to have fair and equal access to all available services, placement, care, treatment, and benefits, and to not be subjected to discrimination or harassment on the basis of actual or perceived race, ethnic group identification, ancestry, national origin, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, mental or physical disability, or HIV status.

(G) Instruction on cultural competency and sensitivity
and related best practices
for providing adequate care for children across diverse ethnic and racial backgrounds, as well as children identifying as lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender.

(H) Basic instruction on the existing laws and procedures regarding the safety of foster youth at school and the ensuring of a
harassment- and violence-free
school environment contained in Article 3.6 (commencing with Section 32228) of Chapter 2 of Part 19 of Division 1 of Title 1 of the Education Code.

(4) The postplacement annual training shall include, but not be limited to, training courses that cover all of the following:

(A) Age-appropriate child development.

(B) Health issues in foster
care, including, but not limited to, the information described in subdivision (d) of Section 16501.4 of the Welfare and Institutions Code.

(C) Positive discipline and the importance of self-esteem.

(D) Emancipation and independent living skills if a foster parent is caring for youth.

(E) The right of a foster child to have fair and equal access to all available services, placement, care, treatment, and benefits, and to not be subjected to discrimination or harassment on the basis of actual or perceived race, ethnic group identification, ancestry, national origin, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, mental or physical disability, or HIV status.

(6) A candidate for placement of foster children shall submit a certificate of training to document completion of the training requirements. The certificate shall be submitted with the initial consideration for placements and provided at the time of the annual visit by the
licensing agency thereafter.

(c) Nothing in this section shall preclude a county from requiring county-provided preplacement or postplacement foster parent training in excess of the requirements in this section.

(d) This section shall remain in effect only until January 1, 2017, and as of that date is repealed, unless a later enacted statute, that is enacted before January 1, 2017, deletes or extends that date.

SEC. 24.

Section 1529.2 is added to the Health and Safety Code, to read:

1529.2.

(a) It is the intent of the Legislature that all foster parents have the necessary knowledge, skills, and abilities to support the safety, permanency, and well-being of children in foster care. Initial and ongoing preparation and training of foster parents should support the foster parent’s role in parenting vulnerable children, youth, and young adults, including supporting the children’s connection with their families. Their training should be ongoing in order to provide foster parents with information on new practices and requirements and other helpful topics within the child welfare and probation systems and may be offered in a classroom setting, online, or individually.

(b) A licensed or certified foster parent shall complete a minimum of eight training hours annually, a portion of which shall be from one or more of the following topics, as prescribed by the department, pursuant to subdivision (a):

(1) Age-appropriate child and adolescent development.

(2) Health issues in foster care, including, but not limited to, the authorization, uses, risks, benefits, assistance with self-administration, oversight, and monitoring of psychotropic or other medications, and trauma, mental health, and substance use disorder treatments for children in foster care under the jurisdiction of the juvenile court, including how to access those treatments.

(3) Positive discipline
and the importance of self-esteem.

(4) Preparation of children and youth for a successful transition to adulthood.

(5) The right of a foster child to have fair and equal access to all available services, placement, care, treatment, and benefits, and
to not be subjected to discrimination or harassment on the basis of actual or perceived race, ethnic group identification, ancestry, national origin, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, mental or physical disability, or HIV status.

(6) Instruction on cultural competency and sensitivity and related best practices for providing adequate care for children across diverse ethnic and racial backgrounds, as well as children identifying as lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender.

(c) In addition to any training required by this section, a foster parent may be required to receive specialized training, as relevant, for the purpose of preparing the foster parent to meet the needs of a particular child in care. This training may include, but is not limited
to, the following:

(1) Understanding how to use best practices for providing care and supervision to commercially sexually exploited children.

(2) Understanding cultural needs of children, including, but not limited to, cultural competency and sensitivity and related best practices for providing adequate care to children across diverse ethnic and racial backgrounds, as well as children identifying as lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender.

(4) Understanding the federal Indian Child Welfare Act (25 U.S.C. Sec. 1901 et seq.), its historical significance, the rights of children covered by the act, and the best interests of
Indian children, including the role of the caregiver in supporting culturally appropriate, child-centered practices that respect Native American history, culture, retention of tribal membership and connection to the tribal community and traditions.

(5) Understanding how to use best practices for providing care and supervision to nonminor dependents.

(6) Understanding how to use best practices for providing care and supervision to children with special health care needs.

(d) No child shall be placed with a foster parent unless each foster parent in the home meets the requirements of this section.

(e) (1) Upon the request of the licensed
or certified foster parent for a hardship waiver from the annual training requirement or a request for an extension of the deadline, the county may, at its option, on a case-by-case basis, waive the training requirement or extend any established deadline for a period not to exceed one year, if the training requirement presents a severe and unavoidable obstacle to continuing as a foster parent.

(2) Obstacles for which a county may grant a hardship waiver or extension are:

(A) Lack of access to training due to the cost or travel required or lack of child care to participate in the training, when online resources are not available.

(B) Family emergency.

(3) Before a waiver or extension may be granted, the licensed or certified foster parent should explore the opportunity of receiving training online or by video or written materials.

(2) In addition to the foster parent training provided by community colleges, foster family agencies shall provide a program of training for their certified foster families.

(g) (1) Training
certificates shall be submitted to the appropriate licensing or foster family agency.

(2) Upon completion, a licensed or certified parent shall submit a certificate of completion for the annual training requirements.

(h) Nothing in this section shall preclude a county or a foster family agency from requiring foster parent training in excess of the requirements in this section.

(i) This section shall become operative on January 1, 2017.

(j) This section shall remain in effect only until January 1, 2019, and as of that date is repealed, unless a later enacted statute, that is enacted before January 1, 2019, deletes or extends that date.

SEC. 24.5.

Section 1529.2 is added to the Health and Safety Code, to read:

1529.2.

(a) It is the intent of the Legislature that all foster parents have the necessary knowledge, skills, and abilities to support the safety, permanency, and well-being of children in foster care. Initial and ongoing preparation and training of foster parents should support the foster parent’s role in parenting vulnerable children, youth, and young adults, including supporting the children’s connection with their families. Their training should be ongoing in order to provide foster parents with information on new practices and requirements and other helpful topics within the child welfare and probation systems and may be offered in a classroom setting, online, or individually.

(b) A licensed or certified foster parent shall complete a minimum
of eight training hours annually, a portion of which shall be from one or more of the following topics, as prescribed by the department, pursuant to subdivision (a):

(1) Age-appropriate child and adolescent development.

(2) Health issues in foster care, including, but not limited to, the authorization, uses, risks, benefits, assistance with self-administration, oversight, and monitoring of psychotropic or other medications, and trauma, mental health, and substance use disorder treatments for children in foster care under the jurisdiction of the juvenile court, including how to access those treatments. Health issues in foster care, including, but not limited to, the authorization, uses, risks, benefits, assistance with self-administration, oversight, and monitoring of psychotropic or other medications, and trauma, mental health, and substance use disorder treatments for children in
foster care under the jurisdiction of the juvenile court, including how to access those treatments, as the information is also described in subdivision (d) of Section 16501.4 of the Welfare and Institutions Code.

(3) Positive discipline and the importance of self-esteem.

(4) Preparation of children and youth for a successful transition to adulthood.

(5) The right of a foster child to have fair and equal access to all available services, placement, care, treatment, and benefits, and to not be subjected to discrimination or harassment on the basis of actual or perceived race, ethnic group identification, ancestry, national origin, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, mental or physical disability, or HIV status.

(6) Instruction on
cultural competency and sensitivity and related best practices for providing adequate care for children across diverse ethnic and racial backgrounds, as well as children identifying as lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender.

(c) In addition to any training required by this section, a foster parent may be required to receive specialized training, as relevant, for the purpose of preparing the foster parent to meet the needs of a particular child in care. This training may include, but is not limited to, the following:

(1) Understanding how to use best practices for providing care and supervision to commercially sexually exploited children.

(2) Understanding cultural needs of children, including, but not limited to, cultural competency and sensitivity and related best practices for providing adequate care to children
across diverse ethnic and racial backgrounds, as well as children identifying as lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender.

(4) Understanding the federal Indian Child Welfare Act (25 U.S.C. Sec. 1901 et seq.), its historical significance, the rights of children covered by the act, and the best interests of Indian children, including the role of the caregiver in supporting culturally appropriate, child-centered practices that respect Native American history, culture, retention of tribal membership and connection to the tribal community and traditions.

(5) Understanding how to use best practices for providing care and supervision to nonminor dependents.

(6) Understanding how to use best practices for providing care and supervision to children with special health care needs.

(d) No child shall be placed with a foster parent unless each foster parent in the home meets the requirements of this section.

(e) (1) Upon the request of the licensed or certified foster parent for a hardship waiver from the annual training requirement or a request for an extension of the deadline, the county may, at its option, on a case-by-case basis, waive the training requirement or extend any established deadline for a period not to exceed one year, if the training requirement presents a severe and
unavoidable obstacle to continuing as a foster parent.

(2) Obstacles for which a county may grant a hardship waiver or extension are:

(A) Lack of access to training due to the cost or travel required or lack of child care to participate in the training, when online resources are not available.

(B) Family emergency.

(3) Before a waiver or extension may be granted, the licensed or certified foster parent should explore the opportunity of receiving training online or by video or written materials.

(2) In addition to the foster parent training provided by community colleges, foster family agencies shall provide a program of training for their certified foster families.

(g) (1) Training certificates shall be submitted to the appropriate licensing or foster family agency.

(2) Upon completion, a licensed or certified parent shall submit a certificate of completion for the annual training requirements.

(h) Nothing in this section shall preclude a county or a foster family agency from requiring foster parent training in excess of the requirements in this section.

(i) This section shall become operative on January 1, 2017.

(j) This section shall remain in effect only until January 1, 2019, and as of that date is repealed, unless a later enacted statute, that is enacted before January 1, 2019, deletes or extends that date.

SEC. 25.

Section 1530.7 of the Health and Safety Code is amended to read:

1530.7.

(a) Group homes, short-term residential treatment centers, foster family agencies, small family homes, transitional housing placement providers, and crisis nurseries licensed pursuant to this chapter shall maintain a smoke-free environment in the facility.

(b) A person who is licensed or certified pursuant to this chapter to provide residential care in a foster family home or certified family home shall not smoke or permit any other person to smoke inside the facility, and, when the child is present, on the outdoor grounds of the facility.

(c) A person who is licensed or certified pursuant to this chapter to provide
residential foster care shall not smoke in any motor vehicle that is regularly used to transport the child.

SEC. 26.

Section 1530.8 of the Health and Safety Code is amended to read:

1530.8.

(a) (1) The department shall adopt regulations for community care facilities licensed as group homes, and for temporary shelter care facilities as defined in subdivision (c), that care for dependent children, children placed by a regional center, or voluntary placements, who are younger than six years of age. The department shall adopt regulations that apply to short-term residential treatment centers that care for children younger than six years of age. The regulations shall include the standards set forth in subdivision (c) of Section 11467.1 of the Welfare and Institutions Code.

(2) The department shall adopt regulations under this section that apply to minor
parent programs serving children younger than six years of age who reside in a group home with a minor parent who is the primary caregiver of the child. The department shall adopt regulations under this section that apply to short-term residential treatment centers that provide minor parent programs serving children younger than six years of age.

(3) To the extent that the department determines they are necessary, the department shall adopt regulations under this section that apply to group homes or short-term residential treatment centers that care for dependent children who are 6 to 12 years of age, inclusive. In order to determine whether such regulations are necessary, and what any resulting standards should include, the department shall consult with interested parties that include, but are not limited to, representatives of current and
former foster youth, advocates for children in foster care, county welfare and mental health directors, chief probation officers, representatives of care providers, experts in child development, and representatives of the Legislature. The standards may provide normative guidelines differentiated by the needs specific to children in varying age ranges that fall between 6 and 12 years of age, inclusive. Prior to adopting regulations, the department shall submit for public
comment, by July 1, 2017, any proposed regulations.

(b) The regulations shall include physical environment standards, including staffing and health and safety requirements, that meet or exceed state child care standards under Title 5 and Title 22 of the California Code of Regulations.

(c) For purposes of this section, a “temporary shelter care facility” means any residential facility that meets all of the following requirements:

(1) It is owned and operated by the county or on behalf of a county by a private, nonprofit agency.

(2) It is a 24-hour facility that provides no more than 10 calendar days of residential care and supervision for children
under 18 years of age who have been removed from their homes as a result of abuse or neglect, as defined in Section 300 of the Welfare and Institutions Code, or both.

(d) (1) The department may license a temporary shelter care facility pursuant to this chapter on or after January 1, 2016. A temporary shelter care license may be issued only to a county operating a licensed group home, or to an agency on behalf of a county, as of January 1, 2016.

(2) The department shall consult with counties that operate these shelters as licensed group homes to develop a transition plan for the development of temporary shelter care facilities to address the unique circumstances and needs of the populations they serve, while remaining consistent with the principles of the act
that added this subdivision.

(3) These transition plans shall describe circumstances under which children will be admitted for a period in excess of 24 hours and reflect necessary staffing levels or staffing transitions.

(e) (1) A group home license issued to a county will be forfeited by operation of law upon receipt of a license to operate a temporary shelter care facility as described in Section 11462.022 of the Welfare and Institutions Code.

(2) Nothing in this subdivision shall preclude a county from applying for and being licensed as a short-term residential treatment center pursuant to Section 1562.01 or a runaway and homeless youth shelter pursuant to Section 1502.35, or a foster family agency
as authorized by subdivision (b) of Section 11462.02 of the Welfare and Institutions Code.

SEC. 27.

Section 1531.1 of the Health and Safety Code is amended to read:

1531.1.

(a) A residential facility licensed as an adult residential facility, group home, short-term residential treatment center, small family home, foster family home, or a family home certified by a foster family agency may install and utilize delayed egress devices of the time delay type.

(b) As used in this section, “delayed egress device” means a device that precludes the use of exits for a predetermined period of time. These devices shall not delay any resident’s departure from the facility for longer than 30 seconds.

(c) Within the 30 seconds of delay, facility staff may attempt to redirect a resident who attempts to leave
the facility.

(d) Any person accepted by a residential facility or family home certified by a foster family agency utilizing delayed egress devices shall meet all of the following conditions:

(1) The person shall have a developmental disability as defined in Section 4512 of the Welfare and Institutions Code.

(2) The person shall be receiving services and case management from a regional center under the Lanterman Developmental Disabilities Services Act (Division 4.5 (commencing with Section 4500) of the Welfare and Institutions Code).

(3) An interdisciplinary team, through the Individual Program Plan (IPP) process pursuant to Section 4646.5 of the Welfare and Institutions
Code, shall have determined that the person lacks
hazard awareness or impulse control and requires the level of supervision afforded by a facility equipped with delayed egress devices, and that but for this placement, the person would be at risk of admission to, or would have no option but to remain in, a more restrictive state hospital or state developmental center placement.

(e) The facility shall be subject to all fire and building codes, regulations, and standards applicable to residential care facilities for the elderly utilizing delayed egress devices, and shall receive approval by the county or city fire department, the local fire prevention district, or the State Fire Marshal for the installed delayed egress devices.

(f) The facility shall provide staff training regarding the use and operation of the
egress control devices utilized by the facility, protection of residents’ personal rights, lack of hazard awareness and impulse control behavior, and emergency evacuation procedures.

(g) The facility shall develop a plan of operation approved by the State Department of Social Services that includes a description of how the facility is to be equipped with egress control devices that are consistent with regulations adopted by the State Fire Marshal pursuant to Section 13143.

(h) The plan shall include, but shall not be limited to, all of the following:

(1) A description of how the facility will provide training for staff regarding the use and operation of the egress control devices utilized by the facility.

(2) A description of how the facility will ensure the protection of the residents’ personal rights consistent with Sections 4502, 4503, and 4504 of the Welfare and Institutions Code.

(3) A description of how the facility will manage the person’s lack of hazard awareness and impulse control behavior.

(4) A description of the facility’s emergency evacuation procedures.

(i) Delayed egress devices shall not substitute for adequate staff. Except for facilities operating in accordance with Section 1531.15, the capacity of the facility shall not exceed six residents.

(j) Emergency fire and earthquake drills shall
be conducted at least once every three months on each shift, and shall include all facility staff providing resident care and supervision on each shift.

SEC. 28.

Section 1531.15 of the Health and Safety Code is amended to read:

1531.15.

(a) A licensee of an adult residential facility, short-term residential treatment center, or group home for no more than six residents, except for the larger facilities provided for in paragraph (1) of subdivision (k), that is utilizing delayed egress devices pursuant to Section 1531.1, may install and utilize secured perimeters in accordance with the provisions of this section.

(b) As used in this section, “secured perimeters” means fences that meet the requirements prescribed by this section.

(c) Only individuals meeting all of the following conditions may be admitted to or reside in a facility described in subdivision (a)
utilizing secured perimeters:

(1) The person shall have a developmental disability as defined in Section 4512 of the Welfare and Institutions Code.

(2) The person shall be receiving services and case management from a regional center under the Lanterman Developmental Disabilities Services Act (Division 4.5 (commencing with Section 4500) of the Welfare and Institutions Code).

(3) (A) The person shall be 14 years of age or older, except as specified in subparagraph (B).

(B) Notwithstanding subparagraph (A), a child who is at least 10 years of age and less than 14 years of age may be placed in a licensed group home described in subdivision (a)
using secured perimeters only if both of the following occur:

(i) A comprehensive assessment is conducted and an individual program plan meeting is convened to determine the services and supports needed for the child to receive services in a less restrictive, unlocked residential setting in California, and the regional center requests assistance from the State Department of Developmental Services’ statewide specialized resource service to identify options to serve the child in a less restrictive, unlocked residential setting in California.

(ii) The regional center requests placement of the child in a licensed group home described in subdivision (a) using secured perimeters on the basis that the placement is necessary to prevent out-of-state placement or placement in a more
restrictive, locked residential setting such as a developmental center, institution for mental disease or psychiatric facility, and the State Department of Developmental Services approves the request.

(4) The person is not a foster child under the jurisdiction of the juvenile court pursuant to Section 300, 450, 601, or 602 of the Welfare and Institutions Code.

(5) (A) An interdisciplinary team, through the individual program plan (IPP) process pursuant to Section 4646.5 of the Welfare and Institutions Code, shall have determined the person lacks hazard awareness or impulse control and, for his or her safety and security, requires the level of supervision afforded by a facility equipped with secured perimeters, and, but for this placement, the person would
be at risk of admission to, or would have no option but to remain in, a more restrictive placement. The individual program planning team shall convene every 90 days after admission to determine and document the continued appropriateness of the current placement and progress in implementing the transition plan.

(B) The clients’ rights advocate for the regional center shall be notified of the proposed admission and the individual program plan meeting and may participate in the individual program plan meeting unless the consumer objects on his or her own behalf.

(d) The licensee shall be subject to all applicable fire and building codes, regulations, and standards, and shall receive approval by the county or city fire department, the local fire prevention district, or the State
Fire Marshal for the installed secured perimeters.

(e) The licensee shall provide staff training regarding the use and operation of the secured perimeters, protection of residents’ personal rights, lack of hazard awareness and impulse control behavior, and emergency evacuation procedures.

(f) The licensee shall revise its facility plan of operation. These revisions shall first be approved by the State Department of Developmental Services. The plan of operation shall not be approved by the State Department of Social Services unless the licensee provides certification that the plan was approved by the State Department of Developmental Services. The plan shall include, but not be limited to, all of the following:

(1) A
description of how the facility is to be equipped with secured perimeters that are consistent with regulations adopted by the State Fire Marshal pursuant to Section 13143.6.

(2) A description of how the facility will provide training for staff.

(3) A description of how the facility will ensure the protection of the residents’ personal rights consistent with Sections 4502, 4503, and 4504 of the Welfare and Institutions Code, and any applicable personal rights provided in Title 22 of the California Code of Regulations.

(4) A description of how the facility will manage residents’ lack of hazard awareness and impulse control behavior, which shall emphasize positive behavioral supports and techniques that are alternatives
to physical, chemical, or mechanical restraints, or seclusion.

(5) A description of the facility’s emergency evacuation procedures.

(6) A description of how the facility will comply with applicable health and safety standards.

(g) Secured perimeters shall not substitute for adequate staff.

(h) Emergency fire and earthquake drills shall be conducted on each shift in accordance with existing licensing requirements, and shall include all facility staff providing resident care and supervision on each shift.

(i) Interior and exterior space shall be available on the facility premises to permit
clients to move freely and safely.

(j) For the purpose of using secured perimeters, the licensee shall not be required to obtain a waiver or exception to a regulation that would otherwise prohibit the locking of a perimeter fence or gate.

(k) Except as provided in subdivision (k) of Section 4684.81 of the Welfare and Institutions Code, the state shall not authorize or fund more than a combined total of 150 beds statewide in facilities with secured perimeters under this section and under Section 1267.75. The department shall notify the appropriate fiscal and policy committees of the Legislature through the January and May budget estimates prior to authorizing an increase above a combined total of 100 beds statewide in facilities with secured perimeters under this section and under
Section 1267.75.

(1) A minimum of 50 beds shall be available within programs designed for individuals who are designated incompetent to stand trial pursuant to Section 1370.1 of the Penal Code. These beds shall be within facilities that are exclusively used to provide care for individuals who are placed and participating in forensic competency training pursuant to Section 1370.1 of the Penal Code, except as provided in paragraph (2). No more than half of these facilities may have more than six beds and no facility may have more than 15 beds.

(2) When, in the joint determination of the regional center and the facility administrator, an individual would be most appropriately served in a specific program, regardless of whether the facility meets the criteria established in
paragraph (1), individuals who are not similarly designated may be placed in the same facility. That placement may occur only when the individual’s planning team determines that the placement and the facility plan of operation meet the individual’s needs and that placement is not incompatible with the needs and safety of other facility residents.

(l) This section shall become operative only upon the publication in Title 17 of the California Code of Regulations of emergency regulations filed by the State Department of Developmental Services. These regulations shall be developed with stakeholders, including the State Department of Social Services, consumer advocates, and regional centers. The regulations shall establish program standards for homes that include secured perimeters, including requirements and timelines for the completion
and updating of a comprehensive assessment of each consumer’s needs, including the identification through the individual program plan process of the services and supports needed to transition the consumer to a less restrictive living arrangement, and a timeline for identifying or developing those services and supports. The regulations shall establish a statewide limit on the total number of beds in homes with secured perimeters. The adoption of these regulations shall be deemed to be an emergency and necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health and safety, or general welfare.

SEC. 29.

Section 1534 of the Health and Safety Code, as amended by Section 4 of Chapter 20 of the Statutes of 2015, is amended to read:

1534.

(a) (1) (A) Except for foster family homes, every licensed community care facility shall be subject to unannounced inspections by the department.

(B) Foster family homes shall be subject to announced inspections by the department, except that a foster family home shall be subject to unannounced inspections in response to a complaint, a plan of correction, or under any of the circumstances set forth in subparagraph (B) of paragraph (2).

(2) (A) The department may inspect these facilities as often as necessary to ensure the quality of care provided.

(B) The department shall conduct an annual unannounced inspection of a facility under any of the following circumstances:

(i) When a license is on probation.

(ii) When the terms of agreement in a facility compliance plan require an annual inspection.

(iii) When an accusation against a licensee is pending.

(iv) When a facility requires an annual inspection as a condition of receiving federal financial participation.

(v) In order to verify that a person who has been ordered out of a facility by the department is no longer at the facility.

(C) (i) The department shall conduct annual unannounced inspections of no less than 20 percent of facilities, except for foster family homes, not subject to an inspection under subparagraph (B).

(ii) The department shall conduct annual announced inspections of no less than 20 percent of foster family homes not subject to an inspection under subparagraph (B).

(iii) These inspections shall be conducted based on a random sampling methodology developed by the department.

(iv) If the total citations issued by the department to facilities exceed the previous year’s total by 10 percent, the following year the department shall increase the random
sample by an additional 10 percent of the facilities not subject to an inspection under subparagraph (B). The department may request additional resources to increase the random sample by 10 percent.

(v) The department shall not inspect a licensed community care facility less often than once every five years.

(3) In order to facilitate direct contact with group home or short-term residential treatment center clients, the department may interview children who are clients of group homes or short-term residential treatment centers at any public agency or private agency at which the client may be found, including, but not limited to, a juvenile hall, recreation or vocational program, or a public or nonpublic school. The department shall respect the rights of the child while conducting
the interview, including informing the child that he or she has the right not to be interviewed and the right to have another adult present during the interview.

(4) The department shall notify the community care facility in writing of all deficiencies in its compliance with the provisions of this chapter and the rules and regulations adopted pursuant to this chapter, and shall set a reasonable length of time for compliance by the facility.

(5) Reports on the results of each inspection, evaluation, or consultation shall be kept on file in the department, and all inspection reports, consultation reports, lists of deficiencies, and plans of correction shall be open to public inspection.

(b) (1) This
section does not limit the authority of the department to inspect or evaluate a licensed foster family agency, a certified family home, or any aspect of a program in which a licensed community care facility is certifying compliance with licensing requirements.

(2) (A) A foster family agency shall conduct an announced inspection of a certified family home during the annual recertification described in Section 1506 in order to ensure that the certified family home meets all applicable licensing standards. A foster family agency may inspect a certified family home as often as necessary to ensure the quality of care provided.

(B) In addition to the inspections required pursuant to subparagraph (A), a foster family agency shall conduct an unannounced
inspection of a certified family home under any of the following circumstances:

(i) When a certified family home is on probation.

(ii) When the terms of the agreement in a facility compliance plan require an annual inspection.

(iii) When an accusation against a certified family home is pending.

(iv) When a certified family home requires an annual inspection as a condition of receiving federal financial participation.

(v) In order to verify that a person who has been ordered out of a certified family home by the department is no longer at the home.

(3) Upon a finding of noncompliance by the department, the department may require a foster family agency to deny or revoke the certificate of approval of a certified family home, or take other action the department may deem necessary for the protection of a child placed with the certified family home. The certified parent or prospective foster parent shall be afforded the due process provided pursuant to this chapter.

(4) If the department requires a foster family agency to deny or revoke the certificate of approval, the department shall serve an order of denial or revocation upon the certified or prospective foster parent and foster family agency that shall notify the certified or prospective foster parent of the basis of the department’s action and of the certified or prospective foster parent’s right to a hearing.

(5) Within 15 days after the department serves an order of denial or revocation, the certified or prospective foster parent may file a written appeal of the department’s decision with the department. The department’s action shall be final if the certified or prospective foster parent does not file a written appeal within 15 days after the department serves the denial or revocation order.

(6) The department’s order of the denial or revocation of the certificate of approval shall remain in effect until the hearing is completed and the director has made a final determination on the merits.

(7) A certified or prospective foster parent who files a written appeal of the department’s order with the department pursuant to this
section shall, as part of the written request, provide his or her current mailing address. The certified or prospective foster parent shall subsequently notify the department in writing of any change in mailing address, until the hearing process has been completed or terminated.

(8) Hearings held pursuant to this section shall be conducted in accordance with Chapter 5 (commencing with Section 11500) of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code. In all proceedings conducted in accordance with this section the standard of proof shall be by a preponderance of the evidence.

(9) The department may institute or continue a disciplinary proceeding against a certified or prospective foster parent upon any ground provided by this section or Section 1550, enter an order denying or
revoking the certificate of approval, or otherwise take disciplinary action against the certified or prospective foster parent, notwithstanding any resignation, withdrawal of application, surrender of the certificate of approval, or denial or revocation of the certificate of approval by the foster family agency.

(10) A foster family agency’s failure to comply with the department’s order to deny or revoke the certificate of approval by placing or retaining children in care shall be grounds for disciplining the licensee pursuant to Section 1550.

(c) This section shall remain in effect only until January 1, 2017, and as of that date is repealed, unless a later enacted statute, that is enacted before January 1, 2017, deletes or extends that date.

SEC. 30.

Section 1534 of the Health and Safety Code, as added by Section 5 of Chapter 20 of the Statutes of 2015, is amended to read:

1534.

(a) (1) (A) Except for foster family homes, every licensed community care facility shall be subject to unannounced inspections by the department.

(B) Foster family homes shall be subject to announced inspections by the department, except that a foster family home shall be subject to unannounced inspections in response to a complaint, a plan of correction, or under any of the circumstances set forth in subparagraph (B) of paragraph (2).

(2) (A) The department may inspect these facilities as often as necessary to ensure the quality of care provided.

(B) The department shall conduct an annual unannounced inspection of a facility under any of the following circumstances:

(i) When a license is on probation.

(ii) When the terms of agreement in a facility compliance plan require an annual inspection.

(iii) When an accusation against a licensee is pending.

(iv) When a facility requires an annual inspection as a condition of receiving federal financial participation.

(v) In order to verify that a person who has been ordered out of a facility by the department is no longer at the facility.

(C) On and after January 1, 2017, and until January 1, 2018, the following shall apply:

(i) Except for foster family homes, the department shall conduct annual unannounced inspections of no less than 30 percent of every licensed community care facility not subject to an inspection under subparagraph (B).

(ii) The department shall conduct annual announced inspections of no less than 30 percent of foster family homes not subject to an inspection under subparagraph (B).

(iii) These inspections shall be conducted based on a random sampling methodology developed by the department.

(iv) The department
shall inspect a licensed community care facility at least once every three years.

(D) On and after January 1, 2018, and until January 1, 2019, the following shall apply:

(i) The department shall conduct annual unannounced inspections of no less than 20 percent of adult residential facilities, adult day programs, social rehabilitation facilities, enhanced behavioral support homes for adults, and community crisis homes, as defined in Section 1502, which are not subject to an inspection under subparagraph (B).

(ii) These inspections shall be conducted based on a random sampling methodology developed by the department.

(iii) The department shall inspect an adult
residential facility, adult day program, social rehabilitation facility, enhanced behavioral support home for adults, and community crisis home, as defined in Section 1502, at least once every two years.

(E) On and after January 1, 2019, the department shall conduct
annual unannounced inspections of all adult residential facilities, adult day programs, social rehabilitation facilities, enhanced behavioral support homes for adults, and community crisis homes, as defined in Section 1502, and adult residential facilities for persons with special health care needs, as defined in Section 4684.50 of the Welfare and Institutions Code.

(F) On and after January 1, 2018, the following shall apply:

(i) Except for foster family homes, the department shall conduct annual unannounced inspections of no less than 20 percent of residential care facilities for children, as defined in Section 1502, including enhanced behavioral support homes for children, transitional housing placement providers, and foster family agencies not subject to an inspection
under subparagraph (B).

(ii) The department shall conduct annual announced inspections of no less than 20 percent of foster family homes, as defined in Section 1502, not subject to an inspection under subparagraph (B).

(iii) The inspections in clauses (i) and (ii) shall be conducted based on a random sampling methodology developed by the department.

(iv) The department shall conduct unannounced inspections of residential care facilities for children, as defined in Section 1502, including enhanced behavioral support homes for children, transitional housing placement providers, and foster family agencies, and announced inspections of foster family homes, at least once every two years.

(3) In order to facilitate direct contact with group home or short-term residential treatment center clients, the department may interview children who are clients of group homes or short-term residential treatment centers at any public agency or private agency at which the client may be found, including, but not limited to, a juvenile hall, recreation or vocational program, or a public or nonpublic school. The department shall respect the rights of the child while conducting the interview, including informing the child that he or she has the right not to be interviewed and the right to have another adult present during the interview.

(4) The department shall notify the community care facility in writing of all deficiencies in its compliance with the provisions of this chapter and
the rules and regulations adopted pursuant to this chapter, and shall set a reasonable length of time for compliance by the facility.

(5) Reports on the results of each inspection, evaluation, or consultation shall be kept on file in the department, and all inspection reports, consultation reports, lists of deficiencies, and plans of correction shall be open to public inspection.

(b) (1) This section does not limit the authority of the department to inspect or evaluate a licensed foster family agency, a certified family home, or any aspect of a program in which a licensed community care facility is certifying compliance with licensing requirements.

(2) (A) A foster family agency
shall conduct an announced inspection of a certified family home during the annual recertification described in Section 1506 in order to ensure that the certified family home meets all applicable licensing standards. A foster family agency may inspect a certified family home as often as necessary to ensure the quality of care provided.

(B) In addition to the inspections required pursuant to subparagraph (A), a foster family agency shall conduct an unannounced inspection of a certified family home under any of the following circumstances:

(i) When a certified family home is on probation.

(ii) When the terms of the agreement in a facility compliance plan require an annual inspection.

(iii) When an accusation against a certified family home is pending.

(iv) When a certified family home requires an annual inspection as a condition of receiving federal financial participation.

(v) In order to verify that a person who has been ordered out of a certified family home by the department is no longer at the home.

(3) Upon a finding of noncompliance by the department, the department may require a foster family agency to deny or revoke the certificate of approval of a certified family home, or take other action the department may deem necessary for the protection of a child placed with the certified family home. The certified parent or prospective
foster parent shall be afforded the due process provided pursuant to this chapter.

(4) If the department requires a foster family agency to deny or revoke the certificate of approval, the department shall serve an order of denial or revocation upon the certified or prospective foster parent and foster family agency that shall notify the certified or prospective foster parent of the basis of the department’s action and of the certified or prospective foster parent’s right to a hearing.

(5) Within 15 days after the department serves an order of denial or revocation, the certified or prospective foster parent may file a written appeal of the department’s decision with the department. The department’s action shall be final if the certified or prospective foster parent does not file a
written appeal within 15 days after the department serves the denial or revocation order.

(6) The department’s order of the denial or revocation of the certificate of approval shall remain in effect until the hearing is completed and the director has made a final determination on the merits.

(7) A certified or prospective foster parent who files a written appeal of the department’s order with the department pursuant to this section shall, as part of the written request, provide his or her current mailing address. The certified or prospective foster parent shall subsequently notify the department in writing of any change in mailing address, until the hearing process has been completed or terminated.

(8) Hearings held
pursuant to this section shall be conducted in accordance with Chapter 5 (commencing with Section 11500) of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code. In all proceedings conducted in accordance with this section the standard of proof shall be by a preponderance of the evidence.

(9) The department may institute or continue a disciplinary proceeding against a certified or prospective foster parent upon any ground provided by this section or Section 1550, enter an order denying or revoking the certificate of approval, or otherwise take disciplinary action against the certified or prospective foster parent, notwithstanding any resignation, withdrawal of application, surrender of the certificate of approval, or denial or revocation of the certificate of approval by the foster family agency.

(10) A foster family agency’s failure to comply with the department’s order to deny or revoke the certificate of approval by placing or retaining children in care shall be grounds for disciplining the licensee pursuant to Section 1550.

(c) This section shall become operative on January 1, 2017.

SEC. 31.

Section 1536 of the Health and Safety Code is amended to read:

1536.

(a) (1) At least annually, the department shall publish and make available to interested persons a list or lists covering all licensed community care facilities, other than foster family homes and certified family homes of foster family agencies providing 24-hour care for six or fewer foster children, and the services for which each facility has been licensed or issued a special permit.

(2) For a group home, transitional housing placement provider, community treatment facility, runaway and homeless youth shelter, or short-term residential treatment center, the list shall include both of the following:

(A) The
number of licensing complaints, types of complaint, and outcomes of complaints, including citations, fines, exclusion orders, license suspensions, revocations, and surrenders.

(B) The number, types, and outcomes of law enforcement contacts made by the facility staff or children, as reported pursuant to subdivision (a) of Section 1538.7.

(b) Subject to subdivision (c), to encourage the recruitment of foster family homes and certified family homes of foster family agencies, protect their personal privacy, and to preserve the security and confidentiality of the placements in the homes, the names, addresses, and other identifying information of facilities licensed as foster family homes and certified family homes of foster family agencies providing 24-hour care for six or fewer children
shall be considered personal information for purposes of the Information Practices Act of 1977 (Chapter 1 (commencing with Section 1798) of Title 1.8 of Part 4 of Division 3 of the Civil Code). This information shall not be disclosed by any state or local agency pursuant to the California Public Records Act (Chapter 3.5 (commencing with Section 6250) of Division 7 of Title 1 of the Government Code), except as necessary for administering the licensing program, facilitating the placement of children in these facilities, and providing names and addresses, upon request, only to bona fide professional foster parent organizations
and to professional organizations educating foster parents, including the Foster and Kinship Care Education Program of the California Community Colleges.

(c) Notwithstanding subdivision (b), the department, a county, or a foster family agency may request information from, or divulge information to, the department, a county, or a foster family agency, regarding a prospective certified parent, foster parent, or relative caregiver for the purpose of, and as necessary to, conduct a reference check to determine whether it is safe and appropriate to license, certify, or approve an applicant to be a certified parent, foster parent, or relative caregiver.

(d) The department may issue a citation and, after the issuance of that citation, may assess a civil penalty of fifty
dollars ($50) per day for each instance of a foster family agency’s failure to provide the department with the information required by subdivision (h) of Section 88061 of Title 22 of the California Code of Regulations.

(e) The Legislature encourages the department, when funds are available for this purpose, to develop a database that would include all of the following information:

(1) Monthly reports by a foster family agency regarding family homes.

(2) A log of family homes certified and decertified, provided by a foster family agency to the department.

(3) Notification by a foster family agency to the department informing the department of a foster family
agency’s determination to decertify a certified family home due to any of the following actions by the certified family parent:

(A) Violating licensing rules and regulations.

(B) Aiding, abetting, or permitting the violation of licensing rules and regulations.

(C) Conducting oneself in a way that is inimical to the health, morals, welfare, or safety of a child placed in that certified family home.

(D) Being convicted of a crime while a certified family parent.

(E) Knowingly allowing any child to have illegal drugs or alcohol.

(F) Committing an act of child abuse or neglect or an act of violence against another person.

SEC. 31.5.

Section 1536 of the Health and Safety Code is amended to read:

1536.

(a) (1) At least annually, the department shall publish and make available to interested persons a list or lists covering all licensed community care facilities, other than foster family homes and certified family homes of foster family agencies providing 24-hour care for six or fewer foster children, and the services for which each facility has been licensed or issued a special permit.

(2) For a group home, transitional housing placement provider, community treatment facility,
runaway and homeless youth shelter,
or short-term residential treatment center, the list shall include both of the following:

(A) The number of licensing complaints, types of complaint, and outcomes of complaints, including citations, fines, exclusion orders, license suspensions, revocations, and surrenders.

(B) The number, types, and outcomes of law enforcement contacts made by the facility staff or children, as reported pursuant to subdivision (a) of Section 1538.7.

(b) Subject to subdivision (c), to encourage the recruitment of foster family homes and certified family homes of foster family agencies, protect their personal privacy, and to preserve the security and confidentiality of the placements in the homes, the names, addresses, and other identifying information of facilities licensed as foster family
homes and certified family homes of foster family agencies providing 24-hour care for six or fewer children shall be considered personal information for purposes of the Information Practices Act of 1977 (Chapter 1 (commencing with Section 1798) of Title 1.8 of Part 4 of Division 3 of the Civil Code). This information shall not be disclosed by any state or local agency pursuant to the California Public Records Act (Chapter 3.5 (commencing with Section 6250) of Division 7 of Title 1 of the Government Code), except as necessary for administering the licensing program, facilitating the placement of children in these facilities, and providing names and addresses, upon request, only to bona fide professional foster parent organizations
and to professional organizations educating foster parents, including the Foster and Kinship Care Education Program of the California Community Colleges.

(c) Notwithstanding subdivision (b), the department, a county, or a foster family agency may request information from, or divulge information to, the department, a county, or a foster family agency, regarding a prospective certified parent, foster parent, or relative caregiver for the purpose of, and as necessary to, conduct a reference check to determine whether it is safe and appropriate to license, certify, or approve an applicant to be a certified parent, foster parent, or relative caregiver.

(d) The department may issue a citation and, after the issuance of that citation, may assess a civil penalty of fifty dollars ($50) per day for each instance of a foster family agency’s failure
to provide the department with the information required by subdivision (h) of Section 88061 of Title 22 of the California Code of Regulations.

(e) The Legislature encourages the department, when funds are available for this purpose, to develop a database that would include all of the following information:

(1) Monthly reports by a foster family agency regarding family homes.

(2) A log of family homes certified and decertified, provided by a foster family agency to the department.

(3) Notification by a foster family agency to the department informing the department of a foster family agency’s determination to decertify a certified family home due to any of the following actions by the certified family parent:

(A) Violating licensing rules and regulations.

(B) Aiding, abetting, or permitting the violation of licensing rules and regulations.

(C) Conducting oneself in a way that is inimical to the health, morals, welfare, or safety of a child placed in that certified family home.

(D) Being convicted of a crime while a certified family parent.

(E) Knowingly allowing any child to have illegal drugs or alcohol.

(F) Committing an act of child abuse or neglect or an act of violence against another person.

(f) At least annually, the department shall post on its Internet Web site a statewide summary of the information gathered pursuant to Sections 1538.8 and 1538.9. The summary shall include only deidentified and aggregate information that does not violate the confidentiality of a child’s identity and records.

SEC. 32.

Section 1538.3 of the Health and Safety Code is amended to read:

1538.3.

A county may develop a cooperative agreement with the department to access disclosable, public record information from an automated system, other than the system described in Section 1538.2, concerning substantiated complaints for all group home or short-term residential treatment centers, as defined by regulations of the department, located within that county. Access to the database may be accomplished through a secure online transaction protocol.

SEC. 33.

Section 1538.5 of the Health and Safety Code is amended to read:

1538.5.

(a) (1) Not less than 30 days prior to the anniversary of the effective date of a residential community care facility license, except licensed foster family homes, the department may transmit a copy to the board members of the licensed facility, parents, legal guardians, conservators, clients’ rights advocates, or placement agencies, as designated in each resident’s placement agreement, of all inspection reports given to the facility by the department during the past year as a result of a substantiated complaint regarding a violation of this chapter relating to resident abuse and neglect, food, sanitation, incidental medical care, and residential supervision. During that one-year period the copy of the notices transmitted
and the proof of the transmittal shall be open for public inspection.

(2) The department may transmit copies of the inspection reports referred to in paragraph (1) concerning a group home or short-term residential treatment center, as defined by regulations of the department, to the county in which the group home or short-term residential treatment center is located, if requested by that county.

(3) A group home or short-term residential treatment center shall maintain, at the facility, a copy of all licensing reports for the past three years that would be accessible to the public through the department, for inspection by placement officials, current and prospective facility clients, and these clients’ family members who visit the facility.

(b) The facility operator, at the expense of the facility, shall transmit a copy of all substantiated complaints, by certified mail, to those persons described pursuant to paragraph (1) of subdivision (a) in the following cases:

(1) In the case of a substantiated complaint relating to resident physical or sexual abuse, the facility shall have three days from the date the facility receives the licensing report from the department to comply.

(2) In the case in which a facility has received three or more
substantiated complaints relating to the same violation during the past 12 months, the facility shall have five days from the date the facility receives the licensing report to comply.

(c) A residential facility shall retain a copy of the notices transmitted pursuant to subdivision (b) and proof of their transmittal by certified mail for a period of one year after their transmittal.

(d) If a residential facility to which this section applies fails to comply with this section, as determined by the department, the department shall initiate civil penalty action against the facility in accordance with this article and the related rules and regulations.

(e) Not less than 30 days prior to the anniversary of the effective date
of the license of any group home or short-term residential treatment center, as defined by regulations of the department, at the request of the county in which the group home or short-term residential treatment center is located, a group home or short-term residential treatment center shall transmit to the county a copy of all incident reports prepared by the group home or short-term residential treatment center and transmitted to a placement agency, as described in subdivision (f) of Section 1536.1, in a county other than the county in which the group home or short-term residential treatment center is located that involved a response by local law enforcement or emergency services personnel, including runaway incidents. The county shall designate an official for the receipt of the incident reports and shall notify the group home or short-term residential treatment center of the designation. Prior to
transmitting copies of incident reports to the county, the group home or short-term residential treatment center shall redact the name of any child referenced in the incident reports, and other identifying information regarding any child referenced in the reports. The county may review the incident reports to ensure that the group home or short-term residential treatment center has taken appropriate action to ensure the health and safety of the residents of the facility.

(f) The department shall notify the residential community care facility of its obligation when it is required to comply with this section.

SEC. 34.

Section 1538.6 of the Health and Safety Code is amended to read:

1538.6.

(a) When the department periodically reviews the record of substantiated complaints against each group home or short-term residential treatment center, pursuant to its oversight role as prescribed by Section 1534, to determine whether the nature, number, and severity of incidents upon which complaints were based constitute a basis for concern as to whether the provider is capable of effectively and efficiently operating the program, and if the department determines that there is cause for concern, it may contact the county in which a group home or short-term residential treatment center is located and placement agencies in other counties using the group home or short-term residential treatment center,
and request their recommendations as to what action, if any, the department should take with regard to the provider’s status as a licensed group home or short-term residential treatment center provider.

(b) It is the intent of the Legislature that the department make every effort to communicate with the county in which a group home or short-term residential treatment center is located when the department has concerns about group homes or short-term residential treatment centers within that county.

SEC. 35.

Section 1538.7 of the Health and Safety Code is amended to read:

1538.7.

(a) A group home, transitional housing placement provider, community treatment facility, runaway and homeless youth shelter, or short-term residential treatment center shall report to the department’s Community Care Licensing Division upon the occurrence of any incident concerning a child in the facility involving contact with law enforcement. At least every six months, the facility shall provide a followup report for each incident, including the type of incident, whether the incident involved an alleged violation of any crime described in Section 602 of the Welfare and Institutions Code by a child residing in the facility; whether staff, children, or both were involved; the gender, race, ethnicity, and age of children involved; and the
outcomes, including arrests, removals of children from placement, or termination or suspension of staff.

(b) (1) If the department determines that, based on the licensed capacity, a facility has reported, pursuant to subdivision (a), a greater than average number of law enforcement contacts involving an alleged violation of any crime described in Section 602 of the Welfare and Institutions Code by a child residing in the facility, the department shall inspect the facility at least once a year.

(2) An inspection conducted pursuant to paragraph (1) does not constitute an unannounced inspection required pursuant to Section 1534.

(c) If an inspection is required pursuant to subdivision (b), the
Community Care Licensing Division shall provide the report to the department’s Children and Family Services Division and to any other public agency that has certified the facility’s program or any component of the facility’s program including, but not limited to, the State Department of Health Care Services, which certifies group homes or short-term residential treatment centers pursuant to Section 4096.5 of the Welfare and Institutions Code.

SEC. 36.

Section 1548 of the Health and Safety Code, as added by Section 2 of Chapter 813 of the Statutes of 2014, is amended to read:

1548.

(a) In addition to the suspension, temporary suspension, or revocation of a license issued under this chapter, the department may levy a civil penalty.

(b) The amount of the civil penalty shall not be less than twenty-five dollars ($25) or more than fifty dollars ($50) per day for each violation of this chapter except where the nature or seriousness of the violation or the frequency of the violation warrants a higher penalty or an immediate civil penalty assessment, or both, as determined by the department. In no event, shall a civil penalty assessment exceed one hundred fifty dollars ($150) per day per violation.

(c) Notwithstanding Section 1534, the department shall assess an immediate civil penalty of one hundred fifty dollars ($150) per day per violation for any of the following serious violations:

(1) (A) Fire clearance violations, including, but not limited to, overcapacity, ambulatory status, inoperable smoke alarms, and inoperable fire alarm systems. The civil penalty shall not be assessed if the licensee has done either of the following:

(i) Requested the appropriate fire clearance based on ambulatory, nonambulatory, or bedridden status, and the decision is pending.

(ii) Initiated eviction proceedings.

(B) A licensee denied a clearance
for bedridden residents may appeal to the fire authority, and, if that appeal is denied, may subsequently appeal to the Office of the State Fire Marshal, and shall not be assessed an immediate civil penalty until the final appeal is decided, or after 60 days has passed from the date of the citation, whichever is earlier.

(2) Absence of supervision, as required by statute or regulation.

(3) Accessible bodies of water when prohibited in this chapter or regulations adopted pursuant to this chapter.

(4) Accessible firearms, ammunition, or both.

(5) Refused entry to a facility or any part of a facility in violation of Section 1533, 1534, or 1538.

(6) The presence of an excluded person on the premises.

(d) (1) For a violation that the department determines resulted in the death of a resident at an adult residential facility, social rehabilitation facility, enhanced behavioral supports home, or community crisis home, the civil penalty shall be fifteen thousand dollars ($15,000).

(2) For a violation that the department determines resulted in the death of a person receiving care at an adult day program, the civil penalty shall be assessed as follows:

(A) Seven thousand five hundred dollars ($7,500) for a licensee licensed, among all of the licensee’s facilities, to care for 50 or less
persons.

(B) Ten thousand dollars ($10,000) for a licensee licensed, among all of the licensee’s facilities, to care for more than 50 persons.

(3) For a violation that the department determines resulted in the death of a person receiving care at a therapeutic day services facility, foster family agency, community treatment facility, full-service adoption agency, noncustodial adoption agency, transitional shelter care facility, transitional housing placement provider, group home, or short-term residential treatment center, the civil penalty shall be assessed as follows:

(A) Seven thousand five hundred dollars ($7,500) for a licensee licensed, among all of the licensee’s facilities, to care for 40 or less
children.

(B) Ten thousand dollars ($10,000) for a licensee licensed, among all of the licensee’s facilities, to care for 41 to 100, inclusive, children.

(C) Fifteen thousand dollars ($15,000) for a licensee licensed, among all of the licensee’s facilities, to care for more than 100 children.

(4) For a violation that the department determines resulted in the death of a resident at a runaway and homeless youth shelter, the civil penalty shall be five thousand dollars ($5,000).

(e) (1) (A) For a violation that the department determines constitutes physical abuse, as defined in Section 15610.63 of the Welfare and
Institutions Code, or resulted in serious bodily injury, as defined in Section 243 of the Penal Code, to a resident at an adult residential facility, social rehabilitation facility, enhanced behavioral supports home, or community crisis home, the civil penalty shall be ten thousand dollars ($10,000).

(B) For a violation that the department determines constitutes physical abuse, as defined in Section 15610.63 of the Welfare and Institutions Code, or resulted in serious bodily injury, as defined in Section 243 of the Penal Code, to a person receiving care at an adult day program, the civil penalty shall be assessed as follows:

(i) Two thousand five hundred dollars ($2,500) for a licensee licensed, among all of the licensee’s facilities, to care for 50 or less persons.

(ii) Five thousand dollars ($5,000) for a licensee licensed, among all of the licensee’s facilities, to care for more than 50 persons.

(C) For a violation that the department determines constitutes physical abuse, as defined in paragraph (2), or resulted in serious bodily injury, as defined in Section 243 of the Penal Code, to a person receiving care at a therapeutic day services facility, foster family agency, community treatment facility, full-service adoption agency, noncustodial adoption agency, transitional shelter care facility, transitional housing placement provider, group home, or short-term residential treatment center, the civil penalty shall be assessed as follows:

(i) Two thousand five hundred dollars ($2,500)
for a licensee licensed, among all of the licensee’s facilities, to care for 40 or less children.

(ii) Five thousand dollars ($5,000) for a licensee licensed, among all of the licensee’s facilities, to care for 41 to 100, inclusive, children.

(iii) Ten thousand dollars ($10,000) for a licensee licensed, among all of the licensee’s facilities, to care for more than 100 children.

(D) For a violation that the department determines constitutes physical abuse, as defined in paragraph (2), or resulted in serious bodily injury, as defined in Section 243 of the Penal Code, to a resident at a runaway and homeless youth shelter, the civil penalty shall be one thousand dollars ($1,000).

(2) For purposes of subparagraphs (C) and (D), “physical abuse” includes physical injury inflicted upon a child by another person by other than accidental means, sexual abuse as defined in Section 11165.1 of the Penal Code, neglect as defined in Section 11165.2 of the Penal Code, or unlawful corporal punishment or injury as defined in Section 11165.4 of the Penal Code when the person responsible for the child’s welfare is a licensee, administrator, or employee of any facility licensed to care for children.

(f) Prior to the issuance of a citation imposing a civil penalty pursuant to subdivision (d) or (e), the decision shall be approved by the director.

(g) Notwithstanding Section 1534, any facility that is cited for repeating
the same violation of this chapter within 12 months of the first violation is subject to an immediate civil penalty of one hundred fifty dollars ($150) and fifty dollars ($50) for each day the violation continues until the deficiency is corrected.

(h) Any facility that is assessed a civil penalty pursuant to subdivision (g) that repeats the same violation of this chapter within 12 months of the violation subject to subdivision (g) is subject to an immediate civil penalty of one hundred fifty dollars ($150) for each day the violation continues until the deficiency is corrected.

(2) A licensee shall have the
right to submit to the department a written request for a formal review of a civil penalty assessed pursuant to subdivisions (d) and (e) within 10 days of receipt of the notice of a civil penalty assessment and shall provide all supporting documentation at that time. The review shall be conducted by a regional manager of the Community Care Licensing Division. If the regional manager determines that the civil penalty was not assessed in accordance with applicable statutes or regulations of the department, he or she may amend or dismiss the civil penalty. The licensee shall be notified in writing of the regional manager’s decision within 60 days of the request to review the assessment of the civil penalty.

(3) The licensee may further appeal to the program administrator of the Community Care Licensing Division within 10 days of receipt
of the notice of the regional manager’s decision and shall provide all supporting documentation at that time. If the program administrator determines that the civil penalty was not assessed in accordance with applicable statutes or regulations of the department, he or she may amend or dismiss the civil penalty. The licensee shall be notified in writing of the program administrator’s decision within 60 days of the request to review the regional manager’s decision.

(4) The licensee may further appeal to the deputy director of the Community Care Licensing Division within 10 days of receipt of the notice of the program director’s decision and shall provide all supporting documentation at that time. If the deputy director determines that the civil penalty was not assessed in accordance with applicable statutes or regulations of the department, he
or she may amend or dismiss the civil penalty. The licensee shall be notified in writing of the deputy director’s decision within 60 days of the request to review the program administrator’s decision.

(5) Upon exhausting the deputy director review, a licensee may appeal a civil penalty assessed pursuant to subdivision (d) or (e) to an administrative law judge. Proceedings shall be conducted in accordance with Chapter 5 (commencing with Section 11500) of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code, and the department shall have all the powers granted by those provisions. In all proceedings conducted in accordance with this section, the standard of proof shall be by a preponderance of the evidence.

(6) If, in addition to an assessment of civil penalties, the department
elects to file an administrative action to suspend or revoke the facility license that includes violations relating to the assessment of the civil penalties, the department review of the pending appeal shall cease and the assessment of the civil penalties shall be heard as part of the administrative action process.

(j) The department shall adopt regulations implementing this section.

(k) The department shall, by January 1, 2016, amend its regulations to reflect the changes to this section made by the act that added this subdivision.

(l) As provided in Section 11466.31 of the Welfare and Institutions Code, the department may offset civil penalties owed by a group home or short-term residential treatment center against moneys
to be paid by a county for the care of minors after the group home or short-term residential treatment center has exhausted its appeal of the civil penalty assessment. The department shall provide the group home or short-term residential treatment center a reasonable opportunity to pay the civil penalty before instituting the offset provision.

(m) This section shall become operative on July 1, 2015.

SEC. 36.5.

Section 1548 of the Health and Safety Code, as added by Section 2 of Chapter 813 of the Statutes of 2014, is amended to read:

1548.

(a) In addition to the suspension, temporary suspension, or revocation of a license issued under this chapter, the department may levy a civil penalty.

(b) The amount of the civil penalty shall not be less than twenty-five dollars ($25) or more than fifty dollars ($50) per day for each violation of this chapter except where the nature or seriousness of the violation or the frequency of the violation warrants a higher penalty or an immediate civil penalty assessment, or both, as determined by the department. Except as otherwise provided in this chapter, a
civil penalty assessment
shall not exceed one hundred fifty dollars ($150) per day per violation.

(c) Notwithstanding Section 1534, the department shall assess an immediate civil penalty of one hundred fifty dollars ($150) per day per violation for any of the following serious violations:

(1) (A) Fire clearance violations, including, but not limited to, overcapacity, ambulatory status, inoperable smoke alarms, and inoperable fire alarm systems. The civil penalty shall not be assessed if the licensee has done either of the following:

(i) Requested the appropriate fire clearance based on ambulatory, nonambulatory, or bedridden status, and the decision is pending.

(ii) Initiated eviction proceedings.

(B) A licensee denied a clearance for bedridden residents may appeal to the fire authority, and, if that appeal is denied, may subsequently appeal to the Office of the State Fire Marshal, and shall not be assessed an immediate civil penalty until the final appeal is decided, or after 60 days has passed from the date of the citation, whichever is earlier.

(2) Absence of supervision, as required by statute or regulation.

(3) Accessible bodies of water when prohibited in this chapter or regulations adopted pursuant to this chapter.

(4) Accessible firearms, ammunition, or both.

(5) Refused entry to a facility or any part of a facility in violation of Section 1533, 1534, or 1538.

(6) The presence of an excluded person on the premises.

(d) (1) For a violation that the department determines resulted in the death of a resident at an adult residential facility, social rehabilitation facility, enhanced behavioral supports home, or community crisis home, the civil penalty shall be fifteen thousand dollars ($15,000).

(2) For a violation that the department determines resulted in the death of a person receiving care at an adult day program, the civil penalty shall be assessed as follows:

(A) Seven thousand five hundred dollars ($7,500) for a licensee licensed, among all of the licensee’s facilities, to care for 50 or less persons.

(B) Ten thousand
dollars ($10,000) for a licensee licensed, among all of the licensee’s facilities, to care for more than 50 persons.

(3) For a violation that the department determines resulted in the death of a person receiving care at a therapeutic day services facility, foster family agency, community treatment facility, full-service adoption agency, noncustodial adoption agency, transitional shelter care facility, transitional housing placement provider,
group home, or short-term residential treatment center, the civil penalty shall be assessed as follows:

(A) Seven thousand five hundred dollars ($7,500) for a licensee licensed, among all of the licensee’s facilities, to care for 40 or less children.

(B) Ten thousand dollars ($10,000) for a licensee licensed, among all of the licensee’s facilities, to care for 41 to 100, inclusive, children.

(C) Fifteen thousand dollars ($15,000) for a licensee licensed, among all of the licensee’s facilities, to care for more than 100 children.

(4) For a violation that the department determines resulted in the death of a resident at a runaway
and homeless youth shelter, the civil penalty shall be five thousand dollars ($5,000).

(e) (1) (A) For a violation that the department determines constitutes physical abuse, as defined in Section 15610.63 of the Welfare and Institutions Code, or resulted in serious bodily injury, as defined in Section 243 of the Penal Code, to a resident at an adult residential facility, social rehabilitation facility, enhanced behavioral supports home, or community crisis home, the civil penalty shall be ten thousand dollars ($10,000).

(B) For a violation that the department determines constitutes physical abuse, as defined in Section 15610.63 of the Welfare and Institutions Code, or resulted in serious bodily injury, as defined in Section 243 of the Penal Code, to a person receiving care at an adult day program, the civil penalty shall be assessed as
follows:

(i) Two thousand five hundred dollars ($2,500) for a licensee licensed, among all of the licensee’s facilities, to care for 50 or less persons.

(ii) Five thousand dollars ($5,000) for a licensee licensed, among all of the licensee’s facilities, to care for more than 50 persons.

(C) For a violation that the department determines constitutes physical abuse, as defined in paragraph (2), or resulted in serious bodily injury, as defined in Section 243 of the Penal Code, to a person receiving care at a therapeutic day services facility, foster family agency, community treatment facility, full-service adoption agency, noncustodial adoption agency, transitional shelter care facility, transitional housing placement provider, group
home, or short-term residential treatment center, the civil penalty shall be assessed as follows:

(i) Two thousand five hundred dollars ($2,500) for a licensee licensed, among all of the licensee’s facilities, to care for 40 or less children.

(ii) Five thousand dollars ($5,000) for a licensee licensed, among all of the licensee’s facilities, to care for 41 to 100, inclusive, children.

(iii) Ten thousand dollars ($10,000) for a licensee licensed, among all of the licensee’s facilities, to care for more than 100 children.

(D) For a violation that the department determines constitutes physical abuse, as defined in paragraph (2), or resulted in
serious bodily injury, as defined in Section 243 of the Penal Code, to a resident at a runaway and homeless youth shelter, the civil penalty shall be one thousand dollars ($1,000).

(2) For purposes of subparagraphs (C) and (D), “physical abuse” includes physical injury inflicted upon a child by another person by other than accidental means, sexual abuse as defined in Section 11165.1 of the Penal Code, neglect as defined in Section 11165.2 of the Penal Code, or unlawful corporal punishment or injury as defined in Section 11165.4 of the Penal Code when the person responsible for the child’s welfare is a licensee, administrator, or employee of any facility licensed to care for children.

(f) Prior to the issuance of a citation imposing a civil penalty pursuant to subdivision (d) or (e), the decision shall be approved by the
program administrator of the Community Care Licensing Division.

(g) Notwithstanding Section 1534, any facility that is cited for repeating the same violation of this chapter within 12 months of the first violation is subject to an immediate civil penalty of one hundred fifty dollars ($150) and fifty dollars ($50) for each day the violation continues until the deficiency is corrected.

(h) Any facility that is assessed a civil penalty pursuant to subdivision (g) that repeats the same violation of this chapter within 12 months of the violation subject to subdivision (g) is subject to an immediate civil penalty of one hundred fifty dollars ($150) for each day the violation continues until the deficiency is corrected.

(2) A notification of a deficiency written by a representative of the department shall include a factual description of the nature of the deficiency fully stating the manner in which the licensee failed to comply with the specified statute or regulation, and, if applicable, the particular place or area of the facility in which the deficiency occurred.

(j) (1) A licensee shall have the right to submit to the department a written request for a formal review of a civil penalty assessed pursuant to subdivisions (d) and (e) within
15 business days of receipt of the notice of a civil penalty assessment and shall provide all available supporting documentation at that time. The review shall be conducted by the deputy director of the Community Care Licensing Division.
The licensee may submit additional supporting documentation that was unavailable at the time of submitting the request for review within the first 30 business days after submitting the request for review. If the department requires additional information from the licensee, that information shall be requested within the first 30 business days after receiving the request for review. The licensee shall provide this additional information within 30 business days of receiving the request from the department. If the deputy director determines that the civil penalty was not assessed, or the finding of deficiency was not made, in accordance with applicable statutes or regulations of the
department, he or she may amend or dismiss the civil
penalty or finding of deficiency. The licensee shall be notified in writing of the deputy director’s
decision within 60 business days of the date when all necessary information has been provided to the department by the licensee.

(2) Upon exhausting the review described in paragraph (1), a licensee may further appeal that decision to an administrative law judge. Proceedings shall be conducted in accordance with Chapter 5 (commencing with Section 11500) of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the
Government Code, and the department shall have all the powers granted by those provisions. In all proceedings conducted in accordance with this section, the standard of proof shall be by a preponderance of the evidence.

(3) If, in addition to an assessment of civil penalties, the department elects to file an administrative action to suspend or revoke the facility license that includes violations relating to the assessment of the civil penalties, the department review of the pending appeal shall cease and the assessment of the civil penalties shall be heard as part of the administrative action process.

(k) (1) A licensee shall have the right to submit to the department a written request for a formal review of any other civil penalty or deficiency not described in subdivision (j) within 15 business days of receipt of the notice of a civil penalty assessment or a finding of a deficiency, and shall provide all available supporting documentation at that time. The review shall be conducted by a regional manager of the Community Care Licensing Division. The licensee may submit additional supporting documentation that was unavailable at the time of submitting the request for review within the first 30 business days after submitting the request for review. If the department requires additional information from the licensee, that information shall be requested within the first 30 business days after receiving the request for review. The licensee shall provide this additional information within 30 business days of receiving the
request from the department. If the regional manager determines that the civil penalty was not assessed, or the finding of the deficiency was not made, in accordance with applicable statutes or regulations of the department, he or she may amend or dismiss the civil penalty or finding of deficiency. The licensee shall be notified in writing of the regional manager’s decision within 60 business days of the date when all necessary information has been provided to the department by the licensee.

(2) Upon exhausting the review described in paragraph (1), the licensee may further appeal that decision to the program administrator of the Community Care Licensing Division within 15 business days of receipt of notice of the regional manager’s decision. The licensee may submit additional supporting documentation that was unavailable at the time of
appeal to the program administrator within the first 30 business days after requesting that appeal. If the department requires additional information from the licensee, that information shall be requested within the first 30 business days after receiving the request for the appeal. The licensee shall provide this additional information within 30 business days of receiving the request from the department. If the program administrator determines that the civil penalty was not assessed, or the finding of the deficiency was not made, in accordance with applicable statutes or regulations of the department, he or she may amend or dismiss the civil penalty or finding of deficiency. The licensee shall be notified in writing of the program administrator’s decision within 60 business days of the date when all necessary information has been provided to the department by the licensee. The program administrator’s decision is considered final and concludes the licensee’s administrative appeal rights regarding the appeal
conducted pursuant to this paragraph.

(l) The department shall adopt regulations implementing this section.

(m) The department shall, by January 1, 2016, amend its regulations to reflect the changes to this section made by
Section 2 of Chapter 813 of the Statutes of 2014.

(n) As provided in Section 11466.31 of the Welfare and Institutions Code, the department may offset civil penalties owed by a group home or short-term residential treatment center against moneys to be paid by a county for the care of minors after the group home or short-term residential treatment center has exhausted its appeal of the civil penalty assessment. The
department shall provide the group home
or short-term residential treatment center a reasonable opportunity to pay the civil penalty before instituting the offset provision.

(o) Notwithstanding the Administrative Procedure Act (Chapter 3.5 (commencing with Section 11340) of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code), the department may implement and administer the changes made by the act that added this subdivision through all-county letters or similar written instructions until regulations are adopted pursuant to the Administrative Procedure Act.

(p) This section shall become operative on July 1, 2015.

SEC. 37.

Section 1562 of the Health and Safety Code is amended to read:

1562.

(a) The department shall ensure that operators and staffs of community care facilities have appropriate training to provide the care and services for which a license or certificate is issued. The section shall not apply to a facility licensed as an Adult Residential Facility for Persons with Special Health Care Needs pursuant to Article 9 (commencing with Section 1567.50).

(b) It is the intent of the Legislature that children in foster care reside in the least restrictive, family-based settings that can meet their needs, and that group homes and short-term residential treatment centers will be used only for short-term, specialized, and intensive treatment purposes that are consistent with a
case plan that is determined by a child’s best interests. Accordingly, the Legislature encourages the department to adopt policies, practices, and guidance that ensure that the education, qualification, and training requirements for child care staff in group homes and short-term residential treatment centers are consistent with the intended role of group homes and short-term residential treatment centers to provide short-term, specialized, and intensive treatment, with a particular focus on crisis intervention, behavioral stabilization, and other treatment-related goals, as well as the connections between those efforts and work toward permanency for children.

(c) (1) Each person employed as a facility manager or staff member of a group home or short-term residential treatment center, as defined in paragraphs
(13) and (18) of subdivision (a) of Section 1502, who provides direct care and supervision to children and youth residing in the group home or short-term residential treatment center shall be at least 21 years of age.

(2) Paragraph (1) shall not apply to a facility manager or staff member employed at the group home before October 1, 2014.

(3) For purposes of this subdivision, “group home” does not include a runaway and homeless youth shelter.

SEC. 38.

Section 1562.01 is added to the Health and Safety Code, to read:

1562.01.

(a) The department shall license short-term residential treatment centers, as defined in paragraph (18) of subdivision (a) of Section 1502, pursuant to this chapter. A short-term residential treatment center shall comply with all requirements of this chapter that are applicable to group homes and to the requirements of this section.

(b) (1) A short-term residential treatment center shall have national accreditation from an entity identified by the department pursuant to the process described in paragraph (5) of subdivision (b) of Section 11462 of the Welfare and Institutions Code.

(2) Notwithstanding paragraph (1), the department may issue a provisional license to a short-term residential treatment center and may extend the term of the provisional license not to exceed two years in order for the short-term residential treatment center to secure accreditation as set forth in subdivision (a) of Section 1520.1.

(c) A short-term residential treatment center shall obtain and have in good standing a mental health certification, as set forth in Section 4096.5 of the Welfare and Institutions Code.

(d) (1) A short-term residential treatment center shall prepare and maintain a current, written plan of operation as required by the department.

(2) The plan of operation shall
include, but not be limited to, all of the following:

(A) A statement of purposes and goals.

(B) A plan for the supervision, evaluation, and training of staff. The training plan shall be appropriate to meet the needs of staff and children.

(C) A program statement that includes all of the following:

(i) Description of the short-term residential treatment center’s ability to support the differing needs of children and their families with short-term, specialized, and intensive treatment.

(ii) Description of the core services, as set forth, on and after January 1, 2017, in paragraph (1) of subdivision (b) of
Section 11462 of the Welfare and Institutions Code, to be offered to children and their families, as appropriate or necessary.

(iii) Procedures for the development, implementation, and periodic updating of the needs and services plan for children served by the short-term residential treatment center and procedures for collaborating with the child and family team described in paragraph (4) of subdivision (a) of Section 16501 of the Welfare and Institutions Code, that include, but are not limited to, a description of the services to be provided to meet the treatment needs of the child as assessed, on and after January 1, 2017, pursuant to subdivision (d) or (e) of Section 11462.01 of the Welfare and Institutions Code, the anticipated duration of the treatment, and the timeframe and plan for transitioning the child to a less-restrictive family
environment.

(iv) A description of the population or populations to be served.

(v) Any other information that may be prescribed by the department for the proper administration of this section.

(e) In addition to the rules and regulations adopted pursuant to this chapter, a county licensed to operate a short-term residential treatment center shall describe, in the plan of operation, its conflict of interest mitigation plan, as set forth on and after January 1, 2017, in subdivision (g) of Section 11462.02 of the Welfare and Institutions Code.

(f) The department shall establish procedures for a county review process, at the county’s option, for short-term
residential treatment centers, which may include the review of the short-term residential treatment center’s program
statement, and which shall be established in consultation with the County Welfare Directors Association of California, Chief Probation Officers of California, and stakeholders, as appropriate.

(g) (1) The department shall adopt regulations to establish requirements for the education, qualification, and training of facility managers and staff who provide care and supervision to children or who have regular, direct contact with children in the course of their responsibilities in short-term residential treatment centers consistent with the intended role of these facilities to provide short-term, specialized, and intensive treatment.

(2) Requirements shall include, but not be limited to, all of the following:

(A) Staff classifications.

(B) Specification of the date by which employees shall be required to meet the education and qualification requirements.

(C) Any other requirements that may be prescribed by the department for the proper administration of this section.

(h) The department shall adopt regulations to specify training requirements for staff who provide care and supervision to children or who have regular, direct contact with children in the course of their responsibilities. These requirements shall include the following:

(1) Timeframes for completion of training, including the following:

(A) Training that shall be completed prior to unsupervised care of children.

(B) Training to be completed within the first 180 days of employment.

(C) Training to be completed annually.

(2) Topics to be covered in the training shall include, but are not limited to, the following:

(B) The effects of trauma, including grief and loss, and child abuse and neglect on child development and behavior and methods to behaviorally support children impacted by that trauma or child abuse
and neglect.

(C) The rights of a child in foster care, including the right to have fair and equal access to all available services, placement, care, treatment, and benefits, and to not be subjected to discrimination or harassment on the basis of actual or perceived race, ethnic group identification, ancestry, national origin, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, mental or physical disability, or HIV status.

(D) Positive discipline and the importance of self-esteem.

(E) Core practice model.

(F) An overview of the child welfare and probation systems.

(G) Reasonable and prudent
parent standard.

(H) Instruction on cultural competency and sensitivity and related best practices for providing adequate care for children across diverse ethnic and racial backgrounds, as well as children identifying as lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender.

(I) Awareness and identification of commercial sexual exploitation and best practices for providing care and supervision to commercially sexually exploited children.

(J) The federal Indian Child Welfare Act (25 U.S.C. Sec. 1901 et seq.), its historical significance, the rights of children covered by the act, and the best interests of Indian
children, including the role of the caregiver in supporting culturally appropriate child centered practices that respect Native American history, culture, retention of tribal membership, and connection to the tribal
community and traditions.

(K) Permanence, well-being, and educational needs of children.

(L) Basic instruction on existing laws and procedures regarding the safety of foster youth at school; and ensuring a harassment and violence free school environment pursuant to Article 3.6 (commencing with Section 32228) of Chapter 2 of Part 19 of Division 1 of Title 1 of the Education Code.

(M) Best practices for providing care and supervision to nonminor dependents.

(i) (1) Each person employed as a facility manager or staff member of a short-term residential treatment center, who provides direct care and supervision to children and youth residing in the short-term residential treatment center shall be at least 21 years of age.

(2) This subdivision shall not apply to a facility manager or staff member employed, before October 1, 2014, at a short-term residential treatment center which was operating under a group home license prior to January 1, 2016.

(j) Notwithstanding any other section of this chapter, the department may establish requirements for licensed group homes that are
transitioning to short-term residential treatment centers, which may include, but not be limited to, requirements related to application and plan of operation.

(k) A short-term residential treatment center shall have a qualified and certified administrator, as set forth in Section 1522.41.

(l) The department shall have the authority to inspect a short-term residential treatment center pursuant to the system of governmental monitoring and oversight developed by the department on and after January 1, 2017, pursuant to subdivision (c) of Section 11462 of the Welfare and Institutions Code.

SEC. 39.

Section 1562.35 of the Health and Safety Code is amended to read:

1562.35.

Notwithstanding any law to the contrary, including, but not limited to Section 1562.3, vendors approved by the department who exclusively provide either initial or continuing education courses for certification of administrators of an adult residential facility as defined by the department, a group home facility as defined by the department, a short-term residential treatment center as defined by the department, or a residential care facility for the elderly as defined in subdivision (k) of Section 1569.2, shall be regulated solely by the department pursuant to this chapter. No other state or local governmental entity shall be responsible for regulating the activity of those vendors.

SEC. 40.

Section 1563 of the Health and Safety Code is amended to read:

1563.

(a) The department shall ensure that licensing personnel at the department have appropriate training to properly carry out this chapter.

(b) The department shall institute a staff development and training program to develop among departmental staff the knowledge and understanding necessary to successfully carry out this chapter. Specifically, the program shall do all of the following:

(1) Provide staff with 36 hours of training per year that reflects the needs of persons served by community care facilities. This training shall, where appropriate, include specialized instruction in the needs
of foster children, persons with mental disorders, or developmental or physical disabilities, or other groups served by specialized community care facilities.

(2) Give priority to applications for employment from persons with experience as care providers to persons served by community care facilities.

(c) In addition to the requirements in subdivision (b), group home, short-term residential treatment center, and foster family agency licensing personnel shall receive a minimum of 24 hours of training per year to increase their understanding of children in group homes, short-term residential treatment centers, certified homes, and foster family homes. The training shall cover, but not be limited to, all of the following topics:

(1) The types and characteristics of emotionally troubled children.

(2) The high-risk behaviors they exhibit.

(3) The biological, psychological, interpersonal, and social contributors to these behaviors.

(4) The
range of management and treatment interventions utilized for these children, including, but not limited to, nonviolent, emergency intervention techniques.

(5) The right of a foster child to have fair and equal access to all available services, placement, care, treatment, and benefits, and to not be subjected to discrimination or harassment on the basis of actual or perceived race, ethnic group identification, ancestry, national origin, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender
identity, mental or physical disability, or HIV status.

(d) The training described in subdivisions (b) and (c) may include the following topics:

(1) An overview of the child protective and probation systems.

(2) The effects of trauma, including grief and loss, and child abuse or neglect on child development and behavior, and methods to behaviorally support children impacted by that trauma or child abuse and neglect.

(3) Positive discipline and the importance of self-esteem.

(4) Health issues in foster care, including, but not limited to, the authorization, uses, risks, benefits,
assistance with
self-administration, oversight, and monitoring of psychotropic medications, and trauma, mental health, and substance use disorder treatments for children in foster care under the jurisdiction of the juvenile court, including how to access those treatments.

(5) Accessing the services and supports available to foster children to address educational needs, physical, mental, and behavioral health, substance use
disorders, and culturally relevant services.

(6) Instruction on cultural competency and sensitivity and related best practices for, providing adequate care for children across diverse ethnic and racial backgrounds, as well as for children identifying as lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender.

(7) Understanding how to use best practices for providing care and supervision to commercially sexually exploited children.

(8) Understanding the federal Indian Child Welfare Act (25 U.S.C. Sec. 1901 et seq.), its historical significance, the rights of children covered by the act, and the best interests of Indian children, including the role of the caregiver in supporting culturally appropriate,
child-centered practices that respect Native American history, culture, retention of tribal membership, and connection to the tribal community and traditions.

(9) Understanding how to use best practices for providing care and supervision to nonminor dependents.

(10) Understanding how to use best practices for providing care and supervision to children with special health care needs.

(11) Basic instruction on existing laws and procedures regarding the safety of foster youth at school; and ensuring a harassment and violence free school environment pursuant to Article 3.6 (commencing with Section 32228) of Chapter 2 of Part 19 of Division 1 of Title 1 of the Education Code.

SEC. 41.

Section 1567.4 of the Health and Safety Code is amended to read:

1567.4.

The State Department of Social Services shall provide, at cost, quarterly to each county and to each city, upon the request of the county or city, and to the chief probation officer of each county and city and county, a roster of all community care facilities licensed as small family homes, short-term residential treatment centers, or group homes located in the county, which provide services to wards of the juvenile court, including information as to whether each facility is licensed by the state or the county, the type of facility, and the licensed bed capacity of each such facility. Information concerning the facility shall be limited to that available through the computer system of the State Department of Social Services.

SEC. 42.

Section 11105.08 of the Penal Code is amended to read:

11105.08.

(a) Notwithstanding any other law, a tribal agency may request from the Department of Justice state and federal level summary criminal history information for the purpose of approving a tribal home for the placement of an Indian child into foster or adoptive care.

(b) A tribal agency shall submit to the Department of Justice fingerprint images and related information required by the Department of Justice of an individual applying with the tribal agency as a prospective foster parent or adoptive parent, any adult who resides or is employed in the home of an applicant,
any person who has a familial or intimate relationship with any person living in the home of an applicant, or employee of the child welfare agency who may have contact with a child, for the purposes of obtaining information as to the existence and content of a record of state or federal convictions and state or federal arrests and also information as to the existence and content of a record of state or federal arrests for which the Department of Justice establishes that the person is released on bail or on his or her own recognizance pending trial or appeal.

(c) Upon receipt of a request for federal summary criminal history information received pursuant to this section, the Department of Justice shall forward the request to the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The Department of Justice shall review the information returned
from the Federal Bureau of Investigation and compile and disseminate a response to the requesting tribal child welfare agency.

(d) The Department of Justice shall provide a state and federal level response to a tribal child welfare agency pursuant to subdivision (m) of Section 11105 of the Penal Code.

(e) A tribal agency shall request from the Department of Justice subsequent notification service pursuant to Section 11105.2 of the Penal Code for persons described in paragraph (b).

(f) The Department of Justice may charge a fee sufficient to cover the reasonable and appropriate costs of processing the request pursuant to this section.

(g) As used in
this section a “tribal agency” means an entity designated by a federally recognized tribe as authorized to approve a home consistent with the federal Indian Child Welfare Act (25 U.S.C. 1903 et seq.), for the purpose of placement of an Indian child into foster or adoptive care, including the authority to conduct a criminal or child abuse background check of, and grant exemptions to, an individual who is a prospective foster or adoptive parent, an adult who resides or is employed in the home of an applicant for approval, any person who has a familial or intimate relationship with any person living in the home of an applicant, or an employee of a tribal child welfare agency who may have contact with a child.

SEC. 43.

Section 11105.2 of the Penal Code is amended to read:

11105.2.

(a) The Department of Justice may provide subsequent state or federal arrest or disposition notification to any entity authorized by state or federal law to receive state or federal summary criminal history information to assist in fulfilling employment, licensing, certification duties, or the duties of approving relative caregivers, nonrelative extended family members, and resource families upon the arrest or disposition of any person whose fingerprints are maintained on file at the Department of Justice or the Federal Bureau of Investigation as the result of an application for licensing, employment, certification, or approval. Nothing in this section shall authorize the notification of a subsequent disposition pertaining to a disposition
that does not result in a conviction, unless the department has previously received notification of the arrest and has previously lawfully notified a receiving entity of the pending status of that arrest. When the department supplies subsequent arrest or disposition notification to a receiving entity, the entity shall, at the same time, expeditiously furnish a copy of the information to the person to whom it relates if the information is a basis for an adverse employment, licensing, or certification decision. When furnished other than in person, the copy shall be delivered to the last contact information provided by the applicant.

(b) For purposes of this section, “approval” means those duties described in subdivision (d) of Section 309 of the Welfare and Institutions Code for approving the home of a relative caregiver or of a
nonrelative extended family member for placement of a child supervised by the juvenile court, and those duties in Section 16519.5 of the Welfare and Institutions Code for resource families.

(c) Any entity, other than a law enforcement agency employing peace officers as defined in Section 830.1, subdivisions (a) and (e) of Section 830.2, subdivision (a) of Section 830.3, subdivisions (a) and (b) of Section 830.5, and subdivision (a) of Section 830.31, shall enter into a contract with the Department of Justice in order to receive notification of subsequent state or federal arrests or dispositions for licensing, employment, or certification purposes.

(d) Any entity that submits the fingerprints of applicants for licensing, employment, certification, or approval to the Department of Justice
for the purpose of establishing a record of the applicant to receive notification of subsequent state or federal arrests or dispositions shall immediately notify the department when the employment of the applicant is terminated, when the applicant’s license or certificate is revoked, when the applicant may no longer renew or reinstate the license or certificate, or when a relative caregiver’s or nonrelative extended family member’s approval is terminated. The Department of Justice shall terminate state or federal subsequent notification on any applicant upon the request of the licensing, employment, certifying, or approving authority.

(e) Any entity that receives a notification of a state or federal subsequent arrest or disposition for a person unknown to the entity, or for a person no longer employed by the entity, or no longer eligible to
renew the certificate or license for which subsequent notification service was established shall immediately return the subsequent notification to the Department of Justice, informing the department that the entity is no longer interested in the applicant. The entity shall not record or otherwise retain any information received as a result of the subsequent notice.

(f) Any entity that submits the fingerprints of an applicant for employment, licensing, certification, or approval to the Department of Justice for the purpose of establishing a record at the department or the Federal Bureau of Investigation to receive notification of subsequent arrest or disposition shall immediately notify the department if the applicant is not subsequently employed, or if the applicant is denied licensing certification, or approval.

(g) An entity that fails to provide the Department of Justice with notification as set forth in subdivisions (c), (d), and (e) may be denied further subsequent notification service.

(h) Notwithstanding subdivisions (c), (d), and (f), subsequent notification by the Department of Justice and retention by the employing agency shall continue as to retired peace officers listed in subdivision (c) of Section 830.5.

SEC. 44.

Section 11105.3 of the Penal Code is amended to read:

11105.3.

(a) Notwithstanding any other law, a human resource agency or an employer may request from the Department of Justice records of all convictions or any arrest pending adjudication involving the offenses specified in subdivision (a) of Section 15660 of the Welfare and Institutions Code of a person who applies for a license, employment, or volunteer position, in which he or she would have supervisory or disciplinary power over a minor or any person under his or her care. The department shall furnish the information to the requesting employer and shall also send a copy of the information to the applicant.

(b) Any request for records under subdivision (a) shall include the applicant’s
fingerprints, which may be taken by the requester, and any other data specified by the department. The request shall be on a form approved by the department, and the department may charge a fee to be paid by the employer, human resource agency, or applicant for the actual cost of processing the request. However, no fee shall be charged to a nonprofit organization. Requests received by the department for federal level criminal offender record information shall be forwarded to the Federal Bureau of Investigation by the department to be searched for any record of arrests or convictions.

(c) (1) When a request pursuant to this section reveals that a prospective employee or volunteer has been convicted of a violation or attempted violation of Section 220, 261.5, 262, 273a, 273d, or 273.5, or any sex offense listed in
Section 290, except for the offense specified in subdivision (d) of Section 243.4, and where the agency or employer hires the prospective employee or volunteer, the agency or employer shall notify the parents or guardians of any minor who will be supervised or disciplined by the employee or volunteer. A conviction for a violation or attempted violation of an offense committed outside the State of California shall be included in this notice if the offense would have been a crime specified in this subdivision if committed in California. The notice shall be given to the parents or guardians with whom the child resides, and shall be given at least 10 days prior to the day that the employee or volunteer begins his or her duties or tasks. Notwithstanding any other law, any person who conveys or receives information in good faith and in conformity with this section is exempt from prosecution under Section
11142 or 11143 for that conveying or receiving of information. Notwithstanding subdivision (d), the notification requirements of this subdivision shall apply as an additional requirement of any other provision of law requiring criminal record access or dissemination of criminal history information.

(2) The notification requirement pursuant to paragraph (1) shall not apply to a misdemeanor conviction for violating Section 261.5 or to a conviction for violating Section 262 or 273.5. Nothing in this paragraph shall preclude an employer from requesting records of convictions for violating Section 261.5, 262, or 273.5 from the Department of Justice pursuant to this section.

(d) Nothing in this section supersedes any law requiring criminal record access or dissemination of criminal
history information. In any conflict with another statute, dissemination of criminal history information shall be pursuant to the mandatory statute. This subdivision applies to, but is not limited to, requirements pursuant to Article 1 (commencing with Section 1500) of Chapter 3 of, and Chapter 3.2 (commencing with Section 1569) and Chapter 3.4 (commencing with Section 1596.70) of, Division 2 of, and Section 1522 of, the Health and Safety Code, and Sections 8712, 8811, and 8908 of the Family Code, and Section 16519.5 of the Welfare and Institutions Code.

(e) The department may adopt regulations to implement the provisions of this section as necessary.

(f) As used in this section, “employer” means any nonprofit corporation or other organization specified by the Attorney
General
that employs or uses the services of volunteers in positions in which the volunteer or employee has supervisory or disciplinary power over a child or children.

(g) As used in this section, “human resource agency” means a public or private entity, excluding any agency responsible for licensing of facilities pursuant to the California Community Care Facilities Act (Chapter 3 (commencing with Section 1500)), the California Residential Care Facilities for the Elderly Act (Chapter 3.2 (commencing with Section 1569)), Chapter 3.01 (commencing with Section 1568.01), and the California Child Day Care Facilities Act (Chapter 3.4 (commencing with Section 1596.70)) of Division 2 of the Health and Safety Code, responsible for determining the character and fitness of a person who is:

(1) Applying for a license, employment, or as a volunteer within the human services field that involves the care and security of children, the elderly, the handicapped, or the mentally impaired.

(2) Applying to be a volunteer who transports individuals impaired by drugs or alcohol.

(3) Applying to adopt a child or to be a foster parent.

(h) Except as provided in subdivision (c), any criminal history information obtained pursuant to this section is confidential and no recipient shall disclose its contents other than for the purpose for which it was acquired.

(i) As used in this subdivision, “community youth athletic program” means an employer having as
its primary purpose the promotion or provision of athletic activities for youth under 18 years of age.

(j) A community youth athletic program, as defined in subdivision (i), may request state and federal level criminal history
information pursuant to subdivision (a) for a volunteer coach or hired coach candidate. The director of the community youth athletic program shall be the custodian of records.

(k) The community youth athletic program may request from the Department of Justice subsequent arrest notification service, as provided in Section 11105.2, for a volunteer coach or a hired coach candidate.

(l) Compliance with this section does not remove or limit the liability of a mandated reporter pursuant to Section 11166.

SEC. 45.

Section 11170 of the Penal Code is amended to read:

11170.

(a) (1) The Department of Justice shall maintain an index of all reports of child abuse and severe neglect submitted pursuant to Section 11169. The index shall be continually updated by the department and shall not contain any reports that are determined to be not substantiated. The department may adopt rules governing recordkeeping and reporting pursuant to this article.

(2) The department shall act only as a repository of reports of suspected child abuse and severe neglect to be maintained in the Child Abuse Central Index (CACI) pursuant to paragraph (1). The submitting agencies are responsible for the accuracy, completeness, and retention of the reports described in this
section. The department shall be responsible for ensuring that the CACI accurately reflects the report it receives from the submitting agency.

(3) Only information from reports that are reported as substantiated shall be filed pursuant to paragraph (1), and all other determinations shall be removed from the central list. If a person listed in the CACI was under 18 years of age at the time of the report, the information shall be deleted from the CACI 10 years from the date of the incident resulting in the CACI listing, if no subsequent report concerning the same person is received during that time period.

(b) The provisions of subdivision (c) of Section 11169 apply to any information provided pursuant to this subdivision.

(1) The Department of Justice shall immediately notify an agency that submits a report pursuant to Section 11169, or a prosecutor who requests notification, of any information maintained pursuant to subdivision (a) that is relevant to the known or suspected instance of child abuse or severe neglect reported by the agency. The agency shall make that information available to the reporting health care practitioner who is treating a person reported as a possible victim of known or suspected child abuse. The agency shall make that information available to the reporting child custodian, Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act guardian ad litem appointed under Rule 5.662 of the California Rules of Court, or counsel appointed under Section 317 or 318 of the Welfare and Institutions Code, or the appropriate licensing agency, if he or she or the licensing agency is handling or investigating a case
of known or suspected child abuse or severe neglect.

(2) When a report is made pursuant to subdivision (a) of Section 11166, or Section 11166.05, the investigating agency, upon completion of the investigation or after there has been a final disposition in the matter, shall inform the person required or authorized to report of the results of the investigation and of any action the agency is taking with regard to the child or family.

(3) The Department of Justice shall make relevant information from the CACI available to a law enforcement agency, county welfare department, tribal agency pursuant to Section 10553.12 of the Welfare and Institutions Code, or county probation department that is conducting a child abuse investigation.

(4) The department shall make available to the State Department of Social Services, or to any county licensing agency that has contracted with the state for the performance of licensing duties, or to a tribal court or tribal child welfare agency of a tribe,
consortium of tribes, or tribal organization that has entered into an agreement with the state pursuant to Section 10553.1 of the Welfare and Institutions Code, information regarding a known or suspected child abuser maintained pursuant to this section and subdivision (a) of Section 11169 concerning any person who is an applicant for licensure or approval, or any adult who resides or is employed in the home of an applicant for licensure or approval, or who is an applicant for employment in a position having supervisorial or disciplinary power over a child or children, or who will provide 24-hour care for a child or children in a residential home or facility, pursuant to Section 1522.1 or 1596.877 of the Health and Safety Code, or Section 8714, 8802, 8912, or 9000 of the Family Code, or Section 11403.2 of the Welfare and Institutions Code.

(5) The Department of Justice shall make available to a Court Appointed Special Advocate program that is conducting a background investigation of an applicant seeking employment with the program or a volunteer position as a Court Appointed Special Advocate, as defined in Section 101 of the Welfare and Institutions Code, information contained in the index regarding known or suspected child abuse by the applicant.

(6) For purposes of child death review, the Department of Justice shall make available to the chairperson, or the chairperson’s designee, for each county child death review team, or the State Child Death Review Council, information for investigative purposes only that is maintained in the CACI pursuant to subdivision (a) relating to the death of one or more children and any prior child abuse or neglect investigation
reports maintained involving the same victims, siblings, or suspects. Local child death review teams may share any relevant information regarding case reviews involving child death with other child death review teams.

(7) The department shall make available to investigative agencies or probation officers, or court investigators acting pursuant to Section 1513 of the Probate Code, responsible for placing children or assessing the possible placement of children pursuant to Article 6 (commencing with Section 300), Article 7 (commencing with Section 305), Article 10 (commencing with Section 360), or Article 14 (commencing with Section 601) of Chapter 2 of Part 1 of Division 2 of the Welfare and Institutions Code, or Article 2 (commencing with Section 1510) or Article 3 (commencing with Section 1540) of Chapter 1 of Part 2 of Division 4 of the
Probate Code, information regarding a known or suspected child abuser contained in the index concerning any adult residing in the home where the child may be placed, when this information is requested for purposes of ensuring that the placement is in the best interest of the child. Upon receipt of relevant information
concerning child abuse or neglect investigation reports contained in the CACI from the Department of Justice pursuant to this subdivision, the agency or court investigator shall notify, in writing, the person listed in the CACI that he or she is in the index. The notification shall include the name of the reporting agency and the date of the report.

(8) Pursuant to Section 10553.12 of the Welfare and Institutions Code, the department shall make available to a tribal agency information regarding a known or suspected child abuser maintained pursuant to this section or subdivision (a) of Section 11169 who is being considered as a prospective foster or adoptive parent, an adult who resides or is employed in the home of an applicant for approval, any person who has a familial or intimate relationship with any person living in the
home of an applicant, or an employee of the tribal agency who may have contact with children.

(9) The Department of Justice shall make available to a government agency conducting a background investigation pursuant to Section 1031 of the Government Code of an applicant seeking employment as a peace officer, as defined in Section 830, information regarding a known or suspected child abuser maintained pursuant to this section concerning the applicant.

(10) The Department of Justice shall make available to a county child welfare agency or delegated county adoption agency, as defined in Section 8515 of the Family Code, conducting a background investigation, or a government agency conducting a background investigation on behalf of one of those agencies, information regarding
a known or suspected child abuser maintained pursuant to this section and subdivision (a) of Section 11169 concerning any applicant seeking employment or volunteer status with the agency who, in the course of his or her employment or volunteer work, will have direct contact with children who are alleged to have been, are at risk of, or have suffered, abuse or neglect.

(11) (A) Persons or agencies, as specified in subdivision (b), if investigating a case of known or suspected child abuse or neglect, or the State Department of Social Services or any county licensing agency pursuant to paragraph (4), or a Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) program conducting a background investigation for employment or volunteer candidates pursuant to paragraph (5), or an investigative agency, probation officer, or court investigator responsible
for placing children or assessing the possible placement of children pursuant to paragraph (7), or a government agency conducting a background investigation of an applicant seeking employment as a peace officer pursuant to paragraph (9), or a county child welfare agency or delegated county adoption agency conducting a background investigation of an applicant seeking employment or volunteer status who, in the course of his or her employment or volunteer work, will have direct contact with children who are alleged to have been, are at risk of, or have suffered, abuse or neglect, pursuant to paragraph (10), to whom disclosure of any information maintained pursuant to subdivision (a) is authorized, are responsible for obtaining the original investigative report from the reporting agency, and for drawing independent conclusions regarding the quality of the evidence disclosed, and its sufficiency for
making decisions regarding investigation, prosecution, licensing, placement of a child,
employment or volunteer positions with a CASA program, or employment as a peace officer.

(B) If CACI information is requested by an agency for the temporary placement of a child in an emergency situation pursuant to Article 7 (commencing with Section 305) of Chapter 2 of Part 1 of Division 2 of the Welfare and Institutions Code, the department is exempt from the requirements of Section 1798.18 of the Civil Code if compliance would cause a delay in providing an expedited response to the agency’s inquiry and if further delay in placement may be detrimental to the child.

(12) (A) Whenever information contained in the Department of Justice files is furnished as the result of an application for employment or licensing or volunteer status pursuant to paragraph
(4), (5), (8), (9), or (10), the Department of Justice may charge the person or entity making the request a fee. The fee shall not exceed the reasonable costs to the department of providing the information. The only increase shall be at a rate not to exceed the legislatively approved cost-of-living adjustment for the department. In no case shall the fee exceed fifteen dollars ($15).

(B) All moneys received by the department pursuant to this section to process trustline applications for purposes of Chapter 3.35 (commencing with Section 1596.60) of Division 2 of the Health and Safety Code shall be deposited in a special account in the General Fund that is hereby established and named the Department of Justice Child Abuse Fund. Moneys in the fund shall be available, upon appropriation by the Legislature, for expenditure by the department
to offset the costs incurred to process trustline automated child abuse or neglect system checks pursuant to this section.

(C) All moneys, other than those described in subparagraph (B), received by the department pursuant to this paragraph shall be deposited in a special account in the General Fund which is hereby created and named the Department of Justice Sexual Habitual Offender Fund. The funds shall be available, upon appropriation by the Legislature, for expenditure by the department to offset the costs incurred pursuant to Chapter 9.5 (commencing with Section 13885) and Chapter 10 (commencing with Section 13890) of Title 6 of Part 4, and the DNA and Forensic Identification Data Base and Data Bank Act of 1998 (Chapter 6 (commencing with Section 295) of Title 9 of Part 1), and for maintenance and improvements to the
statewide Sexual Habitual Offender Program and the California DNA offender identification file (CAL-DNA) authorized by Chapter 9.5 (commencing with Section 13885) of Title 6 of Part 4 and the DNA and Forensic Identification Data Base and Data Bank Act of 1998 (Chapter 6 (commencing with Section 295) of Title 9 of Part 1).

(c) (1) The Department of Justice shall make available to any agency responsible for placing children pursuant to Article 7 (commencing with Section 305) of Chapter 2 of Part 1 of Division 2 of the Welfare and Institutions Code, upon request, relevant information concerning child abuse or neglect reports contained in the index, when making a placement with a responsible relative pursuant to Sections 281.5, 305, and 361.3 of the Welfare and Institutions Code. Upon receipt of relevant information concerning child
abuse or neglect reports contained in the index from the Department of Justice pursuant to this subdivision, the agency shall also notify in writing the person listed in the CACI that he or she is in the index. The notification shall include the location of the original investigative report and the submitting agency. The notification shall be submitted to the person listed at the same time that all other parties are notified of the information, and no later than the actual judicial proceeding that determines placement.

(2) If information is requested by an agency for the placement of a child with a responsible relative in an emergency situation pursuant to Article 7 (commencing with Section 305) of Chapter 2 of Part 1 of Division 2 of the Welfare and Institutions Code, the department is exempt from the requirements of Section 1798.18 of the
Civil Code if compliance would cause a delay in providing an expedited response to the child protective agency’s inquiry and if further delay in placement may be detrimental to the child.

(d) The department shall make available any information maintained pursuant to subdivision (a) to out-of-state law enforcement agencies conducting investigations of known or suspected child abuse or neglect only when an agency makes the request for information in writing and on official letterhead, or as designated by the department, identifying the suspected abuser or victim by name and date of birth or approximate age. The request shall be signed by the department supervisor of the requesting law enforcement agency. The written requests shall cite the out-of-state statute or interstate compact provision that requires that the information contained
within these reports shall be disclosed only to law enforcement, prosecutorial entities, or multidisciplinary investigative teams, and shall cite the safeguards in place to prevent unlawful disclosure of any confidential information provided by the requesting state or the applicable interstate compact provision.

(e) (1) The department shall make available to an out-of-state agency, for purposes of approving a prospective foster or adoptive parent in compliance with the Adam Walsh Child Protection and Safety Act of 2006 (Public Law 109-248), information regarding a known or suspected child abuser maintained pursuant to subdivision (a) concerning the prospective foster or adoptive parent, and any other adult living in the home of the prospective foster or adoptive parent. The department shall make that information available only
when the out-of-state agency makes the request indicating that continual compliance will be maintained with the requirement in paragraph (20) of subsection (a) of Section 671 of Title 42 of the United States Code that requires the state to have in place safeguards to prevent the unauthorized disclosure of information in any child abuse and neglect registry maintained by the state and prevent the information from being used for a purpose other than the conducting of background checks in foster or adoption placement cases.

(2) With respect to any information provided by the department in response to the out-of-state agency’s request, the out-of-state agency is responsible for obtaining the original investigative report from the reporting agency, and for drawing independent conclusions regarding the quality of the evidence disclosed and its
sufficiency for making decisions regarding the approval of prospective foster or adoptive parents.

(3) (A) Whenever information contained in the index is furnished pursuant to this subdivision, the department shall charge the out-of-state agency making the request a fee. The fee shall not exceed the reasonable costs to the department of providing the information. The only increase shall be at a rate not to exceed the legislatively approved cost-of-living adjustment for the department. In no case shall the fee exceed fifteen dollars ($15).

(B) All moneys received by the department pursuant to this subdivision shall be deposited in the Department of Justice Child Abuse Fund, established under subparagraph (B) of paragraph (12) of subdivision (b). Moneys in
the fund shall be available, upon appropriation by the Legislature, for expenditure by the department to offset the costs incurred to process requests for information pursuant to this subdivision.

(f) (1) Any person may determine if he or she is listed in the CACI by making a request in writing to the Department of Justice. The request shall be notarized and include the person’s name, address, date of birth, and either a social security number or a California identification number. Upon receipt of a notarized request, the Department of Justice shall make available to the requesting person information identifying the date of the report and the submitting agency. The requesting person is responsible for obtaining the investigative report from the submitting agency pursuant to paragraph (11) of subdivision (b) of Section
11167.5.

(2) No person or agency shall require or request another person to furnish a copy of a record concerning himself or herself, or notification that a record concerning himself or herself exists or does not exist, pursuant to paragraph (1).

(g) If a person is listed in the CACI only as a victim of child abuse or neglect, and that person is 18 years of age or older, that person may have his or her name removed from the index by making a written request to the Department of Justice. The request shall be notarized and include the person’s name, address, social security number, and date of birth.

SEC. 46.

Section 319.3 of the Welfare and Institutions Code is amended to read:

319.3.

Notwithstanding Section 319, a dependent child who is 6 to 12 years of age, inclusive, may be placed in a community care facility licensed as a group home for children, a short-term residential treatment center, or in a temporary shelter care facility, as defined in Section 1530.8 of the Health and Safety Code, only when the court finds that placement is necessary to secure a complete and adequate evaluation, including placement planning and transition time. The placement period shall not exceed 60 days unless a case plan has been developed and the need for additional time is documented in the case plan and has been approved by a deputy director or director of the county child welfare department or an assistant chief probation officer or chief probation officer of the
county probation department.

SEC. 47.

Section 361.2 of the Welfare and Institutions Code is amended to read:

361.2.

(a) When a court orders removal of a child pursuant to Section 361, the court shall first determine whether there is a parent of the child, with whom the child was not residing at the time that the events or conditions arose that brought the child within the provisions of Section 300, who desires to assume custody of the child. If that parent requests custody, the court shall place the child with the parent unless it finds that placement with that parent would be detrimental to the safety, protection, or physical or emotional well-being of the child. The fact that the parent is enrolled in a certified substance abuse treatment facility that allows a dependent child to reside with his or her parent shall not be, for that reason alone, prima facie
evidence that placement with that parent would be detrimental.

(b) If the court places the child with that parent it may do any of the following:

(1) Order that the parent become legal and physical custodian of the child. The court may also provide reasonable visitation by the noncustodial parent. The court shall then terminate its jurisdiction over the child. The custody order shall continue unless modified by a subsequent order of the superior court. The order of the juvenile court shall be filed in any domestic relation proceeding between the parents.

(2) Order that the parent assume custody subject to the jurisdiction of the juvenile court and require that a home visit be conducted within three months. In
determining whether to take the action described in this paragraph, the court shall consider any concerns that have been raised by the child’s current caregiver regarding the parent. After the social worker conducts the home visit and files his or her report with the court, the court may then take the action described in paragraph (1), (3), or this paragraph. However, nothing in this paragraph shall be interpreted to imply that the court is required to take the action described in this paragraph as a prerequisite to the court taking the action described in either paragraph (1) or (3).

(3) Order that the parent assume custody subject to the supervision of the juvenile court. In that case the court may order that reunification services be provided to the parent or guardian from whom the child is being removed, or the court may order that
services be provided solely to the parent who is assuming physical custody in order to allow that parent to retain later custody without court supervision, or that services be provided to both parents, in which case the court shall determine, at review hearings held pursuant to Section 366, which parent, if either, shall have custody of the child.

(c) The court shall make a finding either in writing or on the record of the basis for its determination under subdivisions (a) and (b).

(d) Part 6 (commencing with Section 7950) of Division 12 of the Family Code shall apply to the placement of a child pursuant to paragraphs (1) and (2) of subdivision (e).

(e) When the court orders removal pursuant to Section 361, the court
shall order the care, custody, control, and conduct of the child to be under the supervision of the social worker who may place the child in any of the following:

(1) The home of a noncustodial parent as described in subdivision (a), regardless of the parent’s immigration status.

(2) The approved home of a relative, regardless of the relative’s immigration status.

(3) The approved home of a nonrelative extended family member as defined in Section 362.7.

(4) The approved home of a resource family as defined in Section 16519.5.

(5) A foster home in which the child has been placed before an interruption
in foster care, if that placement is in the best interest of the child and space is available.

(6) A suitable licensed community care facility, except a runaway and homeless youth shelter licensed by the State Department of Social Services pursuant to Section 1502.35 of the Health and Safety Code.

(7) With a foster family agency to be placed in a suitable licensed foster family home or certified family home which has been certified by the agency as meeting licensing standards.

(8) A home or facility in accordance with the federal Indian Child Welfare Act (25 U.S.C. Sec. 1901 et seq.).

(9) A child under six years of age may be placed in a community care
facility licensed as a group home for children, or a temporary shelter care facility as defined in Section 1530.8 of the Health and Safety Code, only under any of the following circumstances:

(A) (i) When a case plan indicates that placement is for purposes of providing short term, specialized, and intensive treatment to the child, the case plan specifies the need for, nature of, and anticipated duration of this treatment, pursuant to paragraph (2) of subdivision (c) of Section 16501.1, the facility meets the applicable regulations adopted under Section 1530.8 of the Health and Safety Code and standards developed pursuant to Section 11467.1 of this code, and the deputy director or director of the county child welfare department or an assistant chief probation officer or chief probation officer of the county probation department
has approved the case plan.

(ii) The short term, specialized, and intensive treatment period shall not exceed 120 days, unless the county has made progress toward or is actively working toward implementing the case plan that identifies the services or supports necessary to transition the child to a family setting, circumstances beyond the county’s control have prevented the county from obtaining those services or supports within the timeline documented in the case plan, and the need for additional time pursuant to the case plan is documented by the caseworker and approved by a deputy director or director of the county child welfare department or an assistant chief probation officer or chief probation officer of the county probation department.

(iii) To the extent that
placements pursuant to this paragraph are extended beyond an initial 120 days, the requirements of clauses (i) and (ii) shall apply to each extension. In addition, the deputy director or director of the county child welfare department or an assistant chief probation officer or chief probation officer of the county probation department shall approve the continued placement no less frequently than every 60 days.

(B) When a case plan indicates that placement is for purposes of providing family reunification services. In addition, the facility offers family reunification services that meet the needs of the individual child and his or her family, permits parents to have reasonable access to their children 24 hours a day, encourages extensive parental involvement in meeting the daily needs of their children, and employs staff trained to provide
family reunification services. In addition, one of the following conditions exists:

(i) The child’s parent is also a ward of the court and resides in the facility.

(ii) The child’s parent is participating in a treatment program affiliated with the facility and the child’s placement in the facility facilitates the coordination and provision of reunification services.

(iii) Placement in the facility is the only alternative that permits the parent to have daily 24-hour access to the child in accordance with the case plan, to participate fully in meeting all of the daily needs of the child, including feeding and personal hygiene, and to have access to necessary reunification services.

(10) (A) A child who is 6 to 12 years of age, inclusive, may be placed in a community care facility licensed as a group home for children only when a case plan indicates that placement is for purposes of providing short term, specialized, and intensive treatment for the child, the case plan specifies the need for, nature of, and anticipated duration of this treatment, pursuant to paragraph (2) of subdivision (c) of Section 16501.1, and is approved by the deputy director or director of the county child welfare department or an assistant chief probation officer or chief probation officer of the county probation department.

(B) The short term, specialized, and intensive treatment period shall not exceed six months, unless the county has made progress or is actively working toward implementing the case plan that identifies
the services or supports necessary to transition the child to a family setting, circumstances beyond the county’s control have prevented the county from obtaining those services or supports within the timeline documented in the case plan, and the need for additional time pursuant to the case plan is documented by the caseworker and approved by a deputy director or director of the county child welfare department or an assistant chief probation officer or chief probation officer of the county probation department.

(C) To the extent that placements pursuant to this paragraph are extended beyond an initial six months, the requirements of subparagraphs (A) and (B) shall apply to each extension. In addition, the deputy director or director of the county child welfare department or an assistant chief probation officer or chief probation officer
of the county probation department shall approve the continued placement no less frequently than every 60 days.

(11) Nothing in this subdivision shall be construed to allow a social worker to place any dependent child outside the United States, except as specified in subdivision (f).

(f) (1) A child under the supervision of a social worker pursuant to subdivision (e) shall not be placed outside the United States prior to a judicial finding that the placement is in the best interest of the child, except as required by federal law or treaty.

(2) The party or agency requesting placement of the child outside the United States shall carry the burden of proof and shall show, by clear and convincing evidence, that
placement outside the United States is in the best interest of the child.

(3) In determining the best interest of the child, the court shall consider, but not be limited to, the following factors:

(A) Placement with a relative.

(B) Placement of siblings in the same home.

(C) Amount and nature of any contact between the child and the potential guardian or caretaker.

(D) Physical and medical needs of the dependent child.

(E) Psychological and emotional needs of the dependent child.

(F) Social, cultural, and educational needs of the dependent child.

(G) Specific desires of any dependent child who is 12 years of age or older.

(4) If the court finds that a placement outside the United States is, by clear and convincing evidence, in the best interest of the child, the court may issue an order authorizing the social worker to make a placement outside the United States. A child subject to this subdivision shall not leave the United States prior to the issuance of the order described in this paragraph.

(5) For purposes of this subdivision, “outside the United States” shall not include the lands of any federally recognized American Indian tribe or Alaskan Natives.

(6) This subdivision shall not apply to the placement of a dependent child with a parent pursuant to subdivision (a).

(g) (1) If the child is taken from the physical custody of the child’s parent or guardian and unless the child is placed with
relatives, the child shall be placed in foster care in the county of residence of the child’s parent or guardian in order to facilitate reunification of the family.

(2) In the event that there are no appropriate placements available in the parent’s or guardian’s county of residence, a placement may be made in an appropriate place in another county, preferably a county located adjacent to the parent’s or guardian’s community of residence.

(3) Nothing in this section shall be interpreted as requiring multiple disruptions of the child’s placement corresponding to frequent changes of residence by the parent or guardian. In determining whether the child should be moved, the social worker shall take into consideration the potential harmful effects of disrupting the
placement of the child and the parent’s or guardian’s reason for the move.

(4) When it has been determined that it is necessary for a child to be placed in a county other than the child’s parent’s or guardian’s county of residence, the specific reason the out-of-county placement is necessary shall be documented in the child’s case plan. If the reason the out-of-county placement is necessary is the lack of resources in the sending county to meet the specific needs of the child, those specific resource needs shall be documented in the case plan.

(5) When it has been determined that a child is to be placed out of county either in a group home or with a foster family agency for subsequent placement in a certified foster family home, and the sending county is to maintain
responsibility for supervision and visitation of the child, the sending county shall develop a plan of supervision and visitation that specifies the supervision and visitation activities to be performed and specifies that the sending county is responsible for performing those activities. In addition to the plan of supervision and visitation, the sending county shall document information regarding any known or suspected dangerous behavior of the child that indicates the child may pose a safety concern in the receiving county. Upon implementation of the Child Welfare Services Case Management System, the plan of supervision and visitation, as well as information regarding any known or suspected dangerous behavior of the child, shall be made available to the receiving county upon placement of the child in the receiving county. If placement occurs on a weekend or holiday, the information shall be made
available to the receiving county on or before the end of the next business day.

(6) When it has been determined that a child is to be placed out of county and the sending county plans that the receiving county shall be responsible for the supervision and visitation of the child, the sending county shall develop a formal agreement between the sending and receiving counties. The formal agreement shall specify the supervision and visitation to be provided the child, and shall specify that the receiving county is responsible for providing the supervision and visitation. The formal agreement shall be approved and signed by the sending and receiving counties prior to placement of the child in the receiving county. In addition, upon completion of the case plan, the sending county shall provide a copy of the completed case plan to the receiving
county. The case plan shall include information regarding any known or suspected dangerous behavior of the child that indicates the child may pose a safety concern to the receiving county.

(h) Whenever the social worker must change the placement of the child and is unable to find a suitable placement within the county and must place the child outside the county, the placement shall not be made until he or she has served written notice on the parent or guardian at least 14 days prior to the placement, unless the child’s health or well-being is endangered by delaying the action or would be endangered if prior notice were given. The notice shall state the reasons that require placement outside the county. The parent or guardian may object to the placement not later than seven days after receipt of the notice and, upon objection, the
court shall hold a hearing not later than five days after the objection and prior to the placement. The court shall order out-of-county placement if it finds that the child’s particular needs require placement outside the county.

(i) If the court has ordered removal of the child from the physical custody of his or her parents pursuant to Section 361, the court shall consider whether the family ties and best interest of the child will be served by granting visitation rights to the child’s grandparents. The court shall clearly specify those rights to the social worker.

(j) If the court has ordered removal of the child from the physical custody of his or her parents pursuant to Section 361, the court shall consider whether there are any siblings under the court’s jurisdiction, or
any nondependent siblings in the physical custody of a parent subject to the court’s jurisdiction, the nature of the relationship between the child and his or her siblings, the appropriateness of developing or maintaining the sibling relationships pursuant to Section 16002, and the impact of the sibling relationships on the child’s placement and planning for legal permanence.

(k) (1) An agency shall ensure placement of a child in a home that, to the fullest extent possible, best meets the day-to-day needs of the child. A home that best meets the day-to-day needs of the child shall satisfy all of the following criteria:

(A) The child’s caregiver is able to meet the day-to-day health, safety, and well-being needs of the child.

(B) The child’s caregiver is permitted to maintain the least restrictive family setting that promotes normal childhood experiences and serves the day-to-day needs of the child.

(C) The child is permitted to engage in reasonable, age-appropriate day-to-day activities that promote normal childhood experiences for the foster child.

(2) The foster child’s caregiver shall use a reasonable and prudent parent standard, as defined in paragraph (2) of subdivision (a) of Section 362.04, to determine day-to-day activities that are age appropriate to meet the needs of the child. Nothing in this section shall be construed to permit a child’s caregiver to permit the child to engage in day-to-day activities that carry an unreasonable
risk of harm, or subject the child to abuse or neglect.

(3) This section shall remain in effect only until January 1, 2017, and as of that date is repealed, unless a later enacted statute, that is enacted before January 1, 2017, deletes or extends that date.

SEC. 48.

Section 361.2 is added to the Welfare and Institutions Code, to read:

361.2.

(a) When a court orders removal of a child pursuant to Section 361, the court shall first determine whether there is a parent of the child, with whom the child was not residing at the time that the events or conditions arose that brought the child within the provisions of Section 300, who desires to assume custody of the child. If that parent requests custody, the court shall place the child with the parent unless it finds that placement with that parent would be detrimental to the safety, protection, or physical or emotional well-being of the child. The fact that the parent is enrolled in a certified substance abuse treatment facility that allows a dependent child to reside with his or her parent shall not be, for that
reason alone, prima facie evidence that placement with that parent would be detrimental.

(b) If the court places the child with that parent it may do any of the following:

(1) Order that the parent become legal and physical custodian of the child. The court may also provide reasonable visitation by the noncustodial parent. The court shall then terminate its jurisdiction over the child. The custody order shall continue unless modified by a subsequent order of the superior court. The order of the juvenile court shall be filed in any domestic relation proceeding between the parents.

(2) Order that the parent assume custody subject to the jurisdiction of the juvenile court and require that a home visit be conducted
within three months. In determining whether to take the action described in this paragraph, the court shall consider any concerns that have been raised by the child’s current caregiver regarding the parent. After the social worker conducts the home visit and files his or her report with the court, the court may then take the action described in paragraph (1), (3), or this paragraph. However, nothing in this paragraph shall be interpreted to imply that the court is required to take the action described in this paragraph as a prerequisite to the court taking the action described in either paragraph (1) or (3).

(3) Order that the parent assume custody subject to the supervision of the juvenile court. In that case the court may order that reunification services be provided to the parent or guardian from whom the child is being removed, or the
court may order that services be provided solely to the parent who is assuming physical custody in order to allow that parent to retain later custody without court supervision, or that services be provided to both parents, in which case the court shall determine, at review hearings held pursuant to Section 366, which parent, if either, shall have custody of the child.

(c) The court shall make a finding either in writing or on the record of the basis for its determination under subdivisions (a) and (b).

(d) Part 6 (commencing with Section 7950) of Division 12 of the Family Code shall apply to the placement of a child pursuant to paragraphs (1) and (2) of subdivision (e).

(e) When the court orders removal
pursuant to Section 361, the court shall order the care, custody, control, and conduct of the child to be under the supervision of the social worker who may place the child in any of the following:

(1) The home of a noncustodial parent as described in subdivision (a), regardless of the parent’s immigration status.

(2) The approved home of a relative, regardless of the relative’s immigration status.

(3) The approved home of a nonrelative extended family member as defined in Section 362.7.

(4) The approved home of a resource family as defined in Section 16519.5.

(5) A foster home considering first a
foster home in which the child has been placed before an interruption in foster care, if that placement is in the best interest of the child and space is available.

(6) A home or facility in accordance with the federal Indian Child Welfare Act (25 U.S.C. Sec. 1901 et seq.).

(7) A suitable licensed community care facility, except a runaway and homeless youth shelter licensed by the State Department of Social Services pursuant to Section 1502.35 of the Health and Safety Code.

(8) With a foster family agency, as defined in subdivision (g) of Section 11400 and paragraph (4) of subdivision (a) of Section 1502 of the Health and Safety Code, to be placed in a suitable family home certified or approved by the
agency.

(9) A child of any age who is placed in a community care facility licensed as a group home for children or a short-term residential treatment center, as defined in subdivision (ad) of Section
11400 and paragraph (18) of subdivision (a) of Section 1502 of the Health and Safety Code, shall have a case plan that indicates that placement is for purposes of providing short term, specialized, and intensive treatment for the child, the case plan specifies the need for, nature of, and anticipated duration of this treatment, pursuant to paragraph (2) of subdivision (c) of Section 16501.1, and the case plan includes transitioning the child to a less restrictive environment and the projected timeline by which the child will be transitioned to a less restrictive environment. If the placement is longer than six months, the placement shall be documented consistent with paragraph (3) of subdivision (a) of Section 16501.1 and shall be approved by the deputy director or director of the county child welfare department.

(A) A child under six years of age shall not be placed in a community care facility licensed as a group home for children, or a short-term residential treatment center, except under the following circumstances:

(i) When the facility meets the applicable regulations adopted under Section 1530.8 of the Health and Safety Code and standards developed pursuant to Section 11467.1 of this code, and the deputy director or director of the county child welfare department has approved the case plan.

(ii) The short term, specialized, and intensive treatment period shall not exceed 120 days, unless the county has made progress toward or is actively working toward implementing the case plan that identifies the services or supports necessary to transition the child to a family
setting, circumstances beyond the county’s control have prevented the county from obtaining those services or supports within the timeline documented in the case plan, and the need for additional time pursuant to the case plan is documented by the caseworker and approved by a deputy director or director of the county child welfare department.

(iii) To the extent that placements pursuant to this paragraph are extended beyond an initial 120 days, the requirements of clauses (i) and (ii) shall apply to each extension. In addition, the deputy director or director of the county child welfare department
shall approve the continued placement no less frequently than every 60 days.

(iv) In addition, when a case plan indicates that placement is for purposes of providing family reunification services. The facility shall offer family reunification services that meet the needs of the individual child and his or her family, permit parents to have reasonable access to their children 24 hours a day, encourage extensive parental involvement in meeting the daily needs of their children, and employ staff trained to provide family reunification services. In addition, one of the following conditions exists:

(I) The child’s parent is also under the jurisdiction of the court and resides in the facility.

(II) The
child’s parent is participating in a treatment program affiliated with the facility and the child’s placement in the facility facilitates the coordination and provision of reunification services.

(III) Placement in the facility is the only alternative that permits the parent to have daily 24-hour access to the child in accordance with the case plan, to participate fully in meeting all of the daily needs of the child, including feeding and personal hygiene, and to have access to necessary reunification services.

(B) A child who is 6 to 12 years of age, inclusive, may be placed in a community care facility licensed as a group home for children or a short-term residential treatment center under the following
conditions.

(i) The short-term, specialized, and intensive treatment period shall not exceed six months, unless the county has made progress or is actively working toward implementing the case plan that identifies the services or supports necessary to transition the child to a family setting, circumstances beyond the county’s control have prevented the county from obtaining those services or supports within the timeline documented in the case plan, and the need for additional time pursuant to the case plan is documented by the caseworker and approved by a deputy director or director of the county child welfare department.

(ii) To the extent that placements pursuant to this paragraph are extended beyond an initial six months, the requirements of this subparagraph
shall apply to each extension. In addition, the deputy director or director of the county child welfare department shall approve the continued placement no less frequently than every 60 days.

(10) Any child placed in a short-term residential treatment center shall be either of the following:

(A) A child who has been assessed as meeting one of the placement requirements set forth in subdivisions (d) and (e) of Section 11462.01.

(B) A child under 6 years of age who is placed with his or her minor parent or for the purpose of reunification pursuant to clause (iv) of subparagraph (A) of paragraph (9).

(11) Nothing in this subdivision shall be construed to allow
a social worker to place any dependent child outside the United States, except as specified in subdivision (f).

(f) (1) A child under the supervision of a social worker pursuant to subdivision (e) shall not be placed outside the United States prior to a judicial finding that the placement is in the best interest of the child, except as required by federal law or treaty.

(2) The party or agency requesting placement of the child outside the United States shall carry the burden of proof and shall show, by clear and convincing evidence, that placement outside the United States is in the best interest of the child.

(3) In determining the best interest of the child, the court shall consider, but not be limited to, the following
factors:

(A) Placement with a relative.

(B) Placement of siblings in the same home.

(C) Amount and nature of any contact between the child and the potential guardian or caretaker.

(D) Physical and medical needs of the dependent child.

(E) Psychological and emotional needs of the dependent child.

(F) Social, cultural, and educational needs of the dependent child.

(G) Specific desires of any dependent child who is 12 years of age or older.

(4) If the court finds that a placement outside the United States is, by clear and convincing evidence, in the best interest of the child, the court may issue an order authorizing the social worker to make a placement outside the United States. A child subject to this subdivision shall not leave the United States prior to the issuance of the order described in this paragraph.

(5) For purposes of this subdivision, “outside the United States” shall not include the lands of any federally recognized American Indian tribe or Alaskan Natives.

(6) This subdivision shall not apply to the placement of a dependent child with a parent pursuant to subdivision (a).

(g) (1) If the child is taken from
the physical custody of the child’s parent or guardian and unless the child is placed with relatives, the child shall be placed in foster care in the county of residence of the child’s parent or guardian in order to facilitate reunification of the family.

(2) In the event that there are no appropriate placements available in the parent’s or guardian’s county of residence, a placement may be made in an appropriate place in another county, preferably a county located adjacent to the parent’s or guardian’s community of residence.

(3) Nothing in this section shall be interpreted as requiring multiple disruptions of the child’s placement corresponding to frequent changes of residence by the parent or guardian. In determining whether the child should be moved, the social worker shall
take into consideration the potential harmful effects of disrupting the placement of the child and the parent’s or guardian’s reason for the move.

(4) When it has been determined that it is necessary for a child to be placed in a county other than the child’s parent’s or guardian’s county of residence, the specific reason the out-of-county placement is necessary shall be documented in the child’s case plan. If the reason the out-of-county placement is necessary is the lack of resources in the sending county to meet the specific needs of the child, those specific resource needs shall be documented in the case plan.

(5) When it has been determined that a child is to be placed out of county either in a group home or with a foster family agency for subsequent placement in a
certified foster family home, and the sending county is to maintain responsibility for supervision and visitation of the child, the sending county shall develop a plan of supervision and visitation that specifies the supervision and visitation activities to be performed and specifies that the sending county is responsible for performing those activities. In addition to the plan of supervision and visitation, the sending county shall document information regarding any known or suspected dangerous behavior of the child that indicates the child may pose a safety concern in the receiving county. Upon implementation of the Child Welfare Services Case Management System, the plan of supervision and visitation, as well as information regarding any known or suspected dangerous behavior of the child, shall be made available to the receiving county upon placement of the child in the receiving county.
If placement occurs on a weekend or holiday, the information shall be made available to the receiving county on or before the end of the next business day.

(6) When it has been determined that a child is to be placed out of county and the sending county plans that the receiving county shall be responsible for the supervision and visitation of the child, the sending county shall develop a formal agreement between the sending and receiving counties. The formal agreement shall specify the supervision and visitation to be provided the child, and shall specify that the receiving county is responsible for providing the supervision and visitation. The formal agreement shall be approved and signed by the sending and receiving counties prior to placement of the child in the receiving county. In addition, upon completion of the case plan, the sending county
shall provide a copy of the completed case plan to the receiving county. The case plan shall include information regarding any known or suspected dangerous behavior of the child that indicates the child may pose a safety concern to the receiving county.

(h) Whenever the social worker must change the placement of the child and is unable to find a suitable placement within the county and must place the child outside the county, the placement shall not be made until he or she has served written notice on the parent or guardian at least 14 days prior to the placement, unless the child’s health or well-being is endangered by delaying the action or would be endangered if prior notice were given. The notice shall state the reasons that require placement outside the county. The parent or guardian may object to the placement not later than
seven days after receipt of the notice and, upon objection, the court shall hold a hearing not later than five days after the objection and prior to the placement. The court shall order out-of-county placement if it finds that the child’s particular needs require placement outside the county.

(i) If the court has ordered removal of the child from the physical custody of his or her parents pursuant to Section 361, the court shall consider whether the family ties and best interest of the child will be served by granting visitation rights to the child’s grandparents. The court shall clearly specify those rights to the social worker.

(j) If the court has ordered removal of the child from the physical custody of his or her parents pursuant to Section 361, the court shall
consider whether there are any siblings under the court’s jurisdiction, or any nondependent siblings in the physical custody of a parent subject to the court’s jurisdiction, the nature of the relationship between the child and his or her siblings, the appropriateness of developing or maintaining the sibling relationships pursuant to Section 16002, and the impact of the sibling relationships on the child’s placement and planning for legal permanence.

(k) (1) An agency shall ensure placement of a child in a home that, to the fullest extent possible, best meets the day-to-day needs of the child. A home that best meets the day-to-day needs of the child shall satisfy all of the following criteria:

(A) The child’s caregiver is able to meet the day-to-day health, safety,
and well-being needs of the child.

(B) The child’s caregiver is permitted to maintain the least restrictive family setting that promotes normal childhood experiences and that serves the day-to-day needs of the child.

(C) The child is permitted to engage in reasonable, age-appropriate day-to-day activities that promote normal childhood experiences for the foster child.

(2) The foster child’s caregiver shall use a reasonable and prudent parent standard, as defined in paragraph (2) of subdivision (a) of Section 362.04, to determine day-to-day activities that are age appropriate to meet the needs of the child. Nothing in this section shall be construed to permit a child’s caregiver to permit the child to engage in day-to-day
activities that carry an unreasonable risk of harm, or subject the child to abuse or neglect.

(l) This section shall become operative on January 1, 2017.

SEC. 49.

Section 706.6 of the Welfare and Institutions Code is amended to read:

706.6.

(a) Services to minors are best provided in a framework that integrates service planning and delivery among multiple service systems, including the mental health system, using a team-based approach, such as a child and family team. A child and family team brings together individuals that engage with the child or youth and family in assessing, planning, and delivering services. Use of a team approach increases efficiency, and thus reduces cost, by increasing coordination of formal services and integrating the natural and informal supports available to the child or youth and family.

(b) (1) For the purposes of this section, “child and family team” has the
same meaning as in paragraph (4) of subdivision (a) of Section 16501.

(2) In its development of the case plan, the probation agency shall consider any recommendations of the child and family team, as defined in paragraph (4) of subdivision (a) of Section 16501. The agency shall document the rationale for any inconsistencies between the case plan and the child and family team recommendations.

(c) A case plan prepared as required by Section 706.5 shall be submitted to the court. It shall either be attached to the social study or incorporated as a separate section within the social study. The case plan shall include, but not be limited to, the following information:

(1) A description of the circumstances that
resulted in the minor being placed under the supervision of the probation department and in foster care.

(2) Documentation of the preplacement assessment of the minor’s and family’s strengths and service needs showing that preventive services have been provided, and that reasonable efforts to prevent out-of-home placement have been made. The assessment shall include the type of placement best equipped to meet those needs.

(3) (A) A description of the type of home or institution in which the minor is to be placed, and the reasons for that placement decision, including a discussion of the safety and appropriateness of the placement, including the recommendations of the child and family team, if available.

(B) An appropriate placement is a placement in the least restrictive, most family-like environment that promotes normal childhood experiences, in closest proximity to the minor’s home, that meets the minor’s best interests and special needs.

(d) The following shall apply:

(1) The agency selecting a placement shall consider, in order of priority:

(iv) Out-of-state residential treatment pursuant to Part 5 (commencing with Section 7900) of Division 12 of the Family Code.

(2) Although the placement options shall be considered in the preferential order specified in paragraph (1), the placement of a child may be with any of these
placement settings in order to ensure the selection of a safe placement setting that is in the child’s best interests and meets the child’s special needs.

(3) A minor may be placed into a community care facility licensed as a short-term residential treatment center, as defined in subdivision (ad) of Section 11400, provided the case plan indicates
that the placement is for the purposes of providing short-term, specialized, and intensive treatment for the minor, the case plan specifies the need for, nature of, and anticipated duration of this treatment, and the case plan includes transitioning the minor to a less restrictive environment and the projected timeline by which the minor will be transitioned to a less restrictive environment.

(e) Effective January 1, 2010, a case plan shall ensure the educational stability of the child while in foster care and shall include both of the following:

(1) Assurances that the placement takes into account the appropriateness of the current educational setting and the proximity to the school in which the child is enrolled at the time of placement.

(2) An assurance that the placement agency has coordinated with appropriate local educational agencies to ensure that the child remains in the school in which the child is enrolled at the time of placement, or, if remaining in that school is not in the best interests of the child, assurances by the placement agency and the local educational agency to provide immediate and appropriate enrollment in a new school and to provide all of the child’s educational records to the new school.

(f) Specific time-limited goals and related activities designed to enable the safe return of the minor to his or her home, or in the event that return to his or her home is not possible, activities designed to result in permanent placement or emancipation. Specific responsibility for carrying out the
planned activities shall be assigned to one or more of the following:

(1) The probation department.

(2) The minor’s parent or parents or legal guardian or guardians, as applicable.

(3) The minor.

(4) The foster parents or licensed agency providing foster care.

(g) The projected date of completion of the case plan objectives and the date services will be terminated.

(h) (1) Scheduled visits between the minor and his or her family and an explanation if no visits are made.

(2) Whether the child has other siblings, and, if any siblings exist, all of the following:

(A) The nature of the relationship between the child and his or her siblings.

(B) The appropriateness of developing or maintaining the sibling relationships pursuant to Section 16002.

(C) If the siblings are not placed together in the same home, why the siblings are not placed together and what efforts are being made to place the siblings together, or why those efforts are not appropriate.

(D) If the siblings are not placed together, all of the following:

(i) The frequency and nature of the visits
between the siblings.

(ii) If there are visits between the siblings, whether the visits are supervised or unsupervised. If the visits are supervised, a discussion of the reasons why the visits are supervised, and what needs to be accomplished in order for the visits to be unsupervised.

(iii) If there are visits between the siblings, a description of the location and length of the visits.

(iv) Any plan to increase visitation between the siblings.

(E) The impact of the sibling relationships on the child’s placement and planning for legal permanence.

(3) The factors the court may consider in making a determination regarding the nature of the child’s sibling relationships may include, but are not limited to, whether the siblings were raised together in the same home, whether the siblings have shared significant common experiences or have existing close and strong bonds, whether either sibling expresses a desire to visit or live with his or her sibling, as applicable, and whether ongoing contact is in the child’s best emotional interests.

(i) (1) When placement is made in a foster family home, group home, or other child care institution that is either a substantial distance from the home of the minor’s parent or legal guardian or out-of-state, the case
plan shall specify the reasons why the placement is the most appropriate and is in the best interest of the minor.

(2) When an out-of-state group home placement is recommended or made, the case plan shall comply with Section 727.1 and Section 7911.1 of the Family Code. In addition, documentation of the recommendation of the multidisciplinary team and the rationale for this particular placement shall be included. The case plan shall also address what in-state services or facilities were used or considered and why they were not recommended.

(j) If applicable, efforts to make it possible to place siblings together, unless it has been determined that placement together is not in the best interest of one or more siblings.

(k) A schedule of visits between the minor and the probation officer, including a monthly visitation schedule for those children placed in group homes.

(l) Health and education information about the minor, school records, immunizations, known medical problems, and any known medications the minor may be taking, names and addresses of the minor’s health and educational providers; the minor’s grade level performance; assurances that the minor’s placement in foster care takes into account proximity to the school in which the minor was enrolled at the time of placement; and other relevant health and educational information.

(m) When out-of-home services are used and the goal is reunification, the case plan shall describe the services that were provided to prevent removal
of the minor from the home, those services to be provided to assist in reunification and the services to be provided concurrently to achieve legal permanency if efforts to reunify fail.

(n) The updated case plan prepared for a permanency planning hearing shall include a recommendation for a permanent plan for the minor. If, after considering reunification, adoptive placement, legal guardianship, or permanent placement with a fit and willing relative the probation officer recommends placement in a planned permanent living arrangement, the case plan shall include documentation of a compelling reason or reasons why termination of parental rights is not in the minor’s best interest. For purposes of this subdivision, a “compelling reason” shall have the same meaning as in subdivision (c) of Section 727.3.

(o) Each updated case plan shall include a description of the services that have been provided to the minor under the plan and an evaluation of the appropriateness and effectiveness of those services.

(p) A statement that the parent or legal guardian, and the minor have had an opportunity to participate in the development of the case plan, to review the case plan, to sign the case plan, and to receive a copy of the plan, or an explanation about why the parent, legal guardian, or minor was not able to participate or sign the case plan.

(q) For a minor in out-of-home care who is 16 years of age or older, a written description of the programs and services, which will help the minor prepare for the transition from foster
care to independent living.

SEC. 49.5.

Section 706.6 of the Welfare and Institutions Code is amended to read:

706.6.

(a) Services to minors are best provided in a framework that integrates service planning and delivery among multiple service systems, including the mental health system, using a team-based approach, such as a child and family team. A child and family team brings together individuals that engage with the child or youth and family in assessing, planning, and delivering services. Use of a team approach increases efficiency, and thus reduces cost, by increasing coordination of formal services and integrating the natural and informal supports available to the child or youth and family.

(b) (1) For the purposes of this section, “child and family team” has the same meaning as in paragraph (4) of subdivision (a) of Section 16501.

(2) In its development of the case plan, the probation agency shall consider any recommendations of the child and family team, as defined in paragraph (4) of subdivision (a) of Section 16501. The agency shall document the rationale for any inconsistencies between the case plan and the child and family team recommendations.

(c) A case plan
prepared as required by Section 706.5 shall be submitted to the court. It shall either be attached to the social study or incorporated as a separate section within the social study. The case plan shall include, but not be limited to, the following information:

(1) A description of the circumstances that resulted in the minor being placed under the supervision of the probation department and in foster care.

(2) Documentation of the preplacement assessment of the minor’s and family’s strengths and service needs showing that preventive services have been provided, and that reasonable efforts to prevent out-of-home placement have been made. The assessment shall include the type of placement best equipped to meet those needs.

(3) (A) A description of the type of home or
institution in which the minor is to be placed, and the reasons for that placement decision, including a discussion of the safety and appropriateness of the placement, including the recommendations of the child and family team, if available.

(B) An appropriate
placement is a placement in the least restrictive, most family-like environment that promotes normal childhood experiences, in closest proximity to the minor’s home, that meets the minor’s best interests and special needs.

(d) The following shall apply:

(1) The agency selecting a placement shall consider, in order of priority:

(iv) Out-of-state residential treatment pursuant to Part 5 (commencing with Section 7900) of Division 12 of the Family Code.

(2) Although the placement options shall be considered in the
preferential order specified in paragraph (1), the placement of a child may be with any of these placement settings in order to ensure the selection of a safe placement setting that is in the child’s best interests and meets the child’s special needs.

(3) A minor may be placed into a community care facility licensed as a short-term residential treatment center, as defined in subdivision (ad) of Section 11400, provided the case plan indicates that the placement is for the purposes of providing short-term, specialized, and intensive treatment for the minor, the case plan specifies the need for, nature of, and anticipated duration of this treatment, and the case plan includes transitioning the minor to a less restrictive environment and the projected timeline by which the minor will be transitioned to a less restrictive environment.

(e) Effective January 1, 2010, a case plan shall ensure the educational stability of the child while in foster care and shall include both of the following:

(1) Assurances that the placement takes into account the appropriateness of the current educational setting and the proximity to the school in which the child is enrolled at the time of placement.

(2) An assurance that the placement agency has coordinated with appropriate local educational agencies to ensure that the child remains in the school in which the child is enrolled at the time of placement, or, if remaining in that school is not in the best interests of the child, assurances by the placement agency and the local educational agency to provide
immediate and appropriate enrollment in a new school and to provide all of the child’s educational records to the new school.

(f) Specific time-limited goals and related activities designed to enable the safe return of the minor to his or her home, or in the event that return to his or her home is not possible, activities designed to result in permanent placement or emancipation. Specific responsibility for carrying out the planned activities shall be assigned to one or more of the following:

(1) The probation department.

(2) The minor’s
parent or parents or legal guardian or guardians, as applicable.

(3) The minor.

(4) The foster parents or licensed agency providing foster care.

(g) The projected date of completion of the case plan objectives and the date services will be terminated.

(h) (1) Scheduled visits between the minor and his or her family and an explanation if no visits are made.

(2) Whether the child has other siblings, and, if any siblings exist, all of the following:

(A) The nature of the relationship between the child and his or her siblings.

(B) The appropriateness of developing or maintaining the sibling relationships pursuant to Section 16002.

(C) If the siblings are not placed together in the same home, why the siblings are not placed together and what efforts are being made to place the siblings together, or why those efforts are not appropriate.

(D) If the siblings are not placed together, all of the following:

(i) The frequency and nature of the visits between the siblings.

(ii) If there are visits between the siblings, whether the visits are supervised or unsupervised. If the visits are supervised, a discussion of the reasons why the visits are supervised, and what needs to be accomplished in order for the visits to be unsupervised.

(iii) If there are visits between the siblings, a description of the location and length of the visits.

(iv) Any plan to increase visitation between the siblings.

(E) The impact of the sibling relationships on the child’s placement and planning for legal permanence.

(3) The factors the court may consider in making a determination regarding the nature of the child’s sibling relationships may include, but are not limited to, whether the siblings were raised together in the same home, whether the siblings have shared significant common experiences or have existing close and strong bonds, whether either sibling expresses a desire to visit or live with his or her sibling, as applicable, and whether ongoing contact is in the child’s best emotional interests.

(i) (1) When
placement is made in a foster family home, group home, or other child care institution that is either a substantial distance from the home of the minor’s parent or legal guardian or out of state, the case plan shall specify the reasons why the placement is the most appropriate and is in the best interest of the minor.

(2) When an out-of-state group home placement is recommended or made, the case plan shall comply with Section 727.1 of this code and Section 7911.1 of the Family Code. In addition, documentation of the recommendation of the multidisciplinary team and the rationale for this particular placement shall be included. The case
plan shall also address what in-state services or facilities were used or considered and why they were not recommended.

(j) If applicable, efforts to make it possible to place siblings together, unless it has been determined that placement together is not in the best interest of one or more siblings.

(k) A schedule of visits between
the minor and the probation officer, including a monthly visitation schedule for those children placed in group homes.

(l) Health and education information about the minor, school records, immunizations, known medical problems, and any known medications the minor may be taking, names and addresses of the minor’s health and educational providers; the minor’s grade level performance; assurances that the minor’s placement in foster care takes into account proximity to the school in which the minor was enrolled at the time of placement; and other relevant health and educational information.

(m) When out-of-home services are used and the goal is reunification, the case plan shall describe the services that were provided to prevent removal of the minor from the home, those services to be provided to assist in reunification and the services to be provided concurrently to achieve legal permanency if efforts to reunify fail.

(n) (1) The updated case plan prepared for a permanency planning hearing shall include a recommendation for a permanent plan for the minor.
The identified permanent plan for a minor under 16 years of age shall be return home, adoption, legal guardianship, or placement with a fit and willing relative. The case plan shall identify any barriers to achieving legal permanence and the steps the agency will take to address those barriers.

(2) If, after considering reunification, adoptive placement, legal guardianship, or permanent placement with a fit and willing relative the probation officer recommends placement in a planned permanent living
arrangement for a minor 16 years of age or older, the case plan shall include documentation of a compelling reason or reasons why termination of parental rights is not in the minor’s best interest. For purposes of this subdivision, a “compelling reason” shall have the same meaning as in subdivision (c) of Section 727.3. The case plan shall also identify the intensive and ongoing efforts to return the minor to the home of the parent, place the minor for adoption, establish a legal guardianship, or place the minor with a fit and willing relative, as appropriate. Efforts shall include the use of technology, including social media, to find biological family members of the minor.

(o) Each updated case plan shall include a description of the services that have been provided to the minor under the plan and an evaluation of the appropriateness and effectiveness of those services.

(p) A statement that the parent or legal guardian, and the minor have had an opportunity to participate in the development of the case plan, to review the case plan, to sign the case plan, and to receive a copy of the plan, or an explanation about why the parent, legal guardian, or minor was not able to
participate or sign the case plan.

(q) For a minor in out-of-home care who is 16 years of age or older, a written description of the programs and services, which will help the minor prepare for the transition from foster care to successful adulthood.

SEC. 50.

Section 727 of the Welfare and Institutions Code is amended to read:

727.

(a) (1) If a minor or nonminor is adjudged a ward of the court on the ground that he or she is a person described by Section 601 or 602, the court may make any reasonable orders for the care, supervision, custody, conduct, maintenance, and support of the minor or nonminor, including medical treatment, subject to further order of the court.

(2) In the discretion of the court, a ward may be ordered to be on probation without supervision of the probation officer. The court, in so ordering, may impose on the ward any and all reasonable conditions of behavior as may be appropriate under this disposition. A minor or nonminor who has been adjudged a ward of the
court on the basis of the commission of any of the offenses described in subdivision (b) or paragraph (2) of subdivision (d) of Section 707, Section 459 of the Penal Code, or subdivision (a) of Section 11350 of the Health and Safety Code, shall not be eligible for probation without supervision of the probation officer. A minor or nonminor who has been adjudged a ward of the court on the basis of the commission of any offense involving the sale or possession for sale of a controlled substance, except misdemeanor offenses involving marijuana, as specified in Chapter 2 (commencing with Section 11053) of Division 10 of the Health and Safety Code, or of an offense in violation of Section 32625 of the Penal Code, shall be eligible for probation without supervision of the probation officer only when the court determines that the interests of justice would best be served and states reasons on the record for that
determination.

(3) In all other cases, the court shall order the care, custody, and control of the minor or nonminor to be under the supervision of the probation officer.

(4) It is the sole responsibility pursuant to 42 U.S.C. Section 672(a)(2)(B) of the probation agency to determine the appropriate placement for the ward once the court issues a placement order. In determination of the appropriate placement for the ward, the probation officer shall consider any recommendations of the child and
family. The probation agency may place the minor or nonminor in any of the following:

(A) The approved home of a relative or the approved home of a nonrelative, extended family member, as defined in Section 362.7. If a decision has been made to place the minor in the home of a relative, the court may authorize the relative to give legal consent for the minor’s medical, surgical, and dental care and education as if the relative caregiver were the custodial parent of the minor.

(B) A foster home, the approved home of a resource family as defined in Section 16519.5, or a home or facility in accordance with the federal Indian Child Welfare Act (25 U.S.C. Sec. 1901 et seq.).

(C) A
suitable licensed community care facility, as identified by the probation officer, except a runaway and homeless youth shelter licensed by the State Department of Social Services pursuant to Section 1502.35 of the Health and Safety Code.

(D) A foster family agency, as defined in subdivision (g) of Section 11400 and paragraph (4) of subdivision (a) of Section 1502 of the Health and Safety Code, in a suitable program in a family home, which has been certified by the agency as meeting licensing standards. Commencing January 1, 2017, the requirements of Section 11462.01 shall be met.

(E) Commencing January 1, 2017, a minor or nonminor dependent may be placed in a short-term residential treatment center as defined in subdivision (ad) of Section 11400 and paragraph (18) of subdivision
(a) of Section 1502 of the Health and Safety Code, or a foster family agency, as defined in paragraph (4) of subdivision (a) of Section 1502 of the Health and Safety Code. The placing agency shall also comply with requirements set forth in paragraph (9) of subdivision (e) of Section 361.2, which includes, but is not limited to, authorization, limitation on length of stay, extensions, and additional requirements related to minors. If the placement is longer than 12 months, the placement shall be approved by the chief probation officer of the county probation department, or his or her designee.

(F) (i) Every minor adjudged a ward of the juvenile court shall be entitled to participate in age-appropriate extracurricular, enrichment, and social activities. A state or local regulation or policy shall not prevent, or create
barriers to, participation in those activities. Each state and local entity shall ensure that private agencies that provide foster care services to wards have policies consistent with this section and that those agencies promote and protect the ability of wards to participate in age-appropriate extracurricular, enrichment, and social activities. A group home administrator, a facility manager, or his or her responsible designee, and a caregiver, as defined in paragraph (1) of subdivision (a) of Section 362.04, shall use a reasonable and prudent parent standard, as defined in paragraph (2) of subdivision (a) of Section 362.04, in determining whether to give permission for a minor residing in foster care to participate in extracurricular, enrichment, and social activities. A group home administrator, a facility manager, or his or her responsible designee, and a caregiver shall take reasonable steps
to determine the appropriateness of the activity taking into consideration the minor’s age, maturity, and developmental level.

(ii) A group home administrator or a facility manager, or his or her responsible designee, is encouraged to consult with social work or treatment staff members who are most familiar with the minor at the group home in applying and using the reasonable and prudent parent standard.

(G) For nonminors, an approved supervised independent living setting as defined in Section 11400, including a residential housing unit certified by a licensed transitional housing placement provider.

(5) The minor or nonminor shall be released from juvenile detention upon an order being entered under paragraph (3), unless the
court determines that a delay in the release from detention is reasonable pursuant to Section 737.

(b) (1) To facilitate coordination and cooperation among agencies, the court may, at any time after a petition has been filed, after giving notice and an opportunity to be heard, join in the juvenile court proceedings any agency that the court determines has failed to meet a legal obligation to provide services to a minor, for whom a petition has been filed under Section 601 or 602, to a nonminor, as described in Section 303, or to a nonminor dependent, as defined in subdivision (v) of Section 11400. In any proceeding in which an agency is joined, the court shall not impose duties upon the agency beyond those mandated by law. The purpose of joinder under this section is to ensure the delivery and coordination of legally
mandated services to the minor. The joinder shall not be maintained for any other purpose. Nothing in this section shall prohibit agencies that have received notice of the hearing on joinder from meeting prior to the hearing to coordinate services.

(2) The court has no authority to order services unless it has been determined through the administrative process of an agency that has been joined as a party, that the minor, nonminor, or nonminor dependent is eligible for those services. With respect to mental health assessment, treatment, and case management services pursuant to an individualized education program developed pursuant to Article 2 (commencing with Section 56320) of Chapter 4 of Part 30 of Division 4 of Title 2 of the Education Code, the court’s determination shall be limited to whether the agency has complied with that
chapter.

(3) For the purposes of this subdivision, “agency” means any governmental agency or any private service provider or individual that receives federal, state, or local governmental funding or reimbursement for providing services directly to a child, nonminor, or nonminor dependent.

(c) If a minor has been adjudged a ward of the court on the ground that he or she is a person described in Section 601 or 602, and the court finds that notice has been given in accordance with Section 661, and if the court orders that a parent or guardian shall retain custody of that minor either subject to or without the supervision of the probation officer, the parent or guardian may be required to participate with that minor in a counseling or education program, including, but not limited to,
parent education and parenting programs operated by community colleges, school districts, or other appropriate agencies designated by the court.

(d) The juvenile court may direct any reasonable orders to the parents and guardians of the minor who is the subject of any proceedings under this chapter as the court deems necessary and proper to carry out subdivisions (a), (b), and (c), including orders to appear before a county financial evaluation officer, to ensure the minor’s regular school attendance, and to make reasonable efforts to obtain appropriate educational services necessary to meet the needs of the minor.

If counseling or other treatment services are ordered for the minor, the parent, guardian, or foster parent shall be ordered to participate in those services, unless participation by the
parent, guardian, or foster parent is deemed by the court to be inappropriate or potentially detrimental to the minor.

SEC. 51.

Section 727.1 of the Welfare and Institutions Code is amended to read:

727.1.

(a) When the court orders the care, custody, and control of the minor to be under the supervision of the probation officer for foster care placement pursuant to subdivision (a) of Section 727, the decision regarding choice of placement, pursuant to Section 706.6, shall be based upon selection of a safe setting that is the least restrictive or most family like, and the most appropriate setting that meets the individual needs of the minor and is available, in proximity to the parent’s home, consistent with the selection of the environment best suited to meet the minor’s special needs and best interests. The selection shall consider, in order of priority, placement with relatives, tribal members, and foster
family, group care, and residential treatment pursuant to Section 7950 of the Family Code.

(b) Unless otherwise authorized by law, the court may not order the placement of a minor who is adjudged a ward of the court on the basis that he or she is a person described by either Section 601 or 602 in a private residential facility or program that provides 24-hour supervision, outside of the state, unless the court finds, in its order of placement, that all of the following conditions are met:

(1) In-state facilities or programs have been determined to be unavailable or inadequate to meet the needs of the minor.

(2) The State Department of Social Services or its designee has performed initial and continuing inspection of the
out-of-state residential facility or program and has either certified that the
facility or program meets the greater of all licensure standards required of group homes or of short-term residential treatment centers operated in California, or that the department has granted a waiver to a specific licensing standard upon a finding that there exists no adverse impact to health and safety, pursuant to subdivision (c) of Section 7911.1 of the Family Code.

(3) The requirements of Section 7911.1 of the Family Code are met.

(c) If, upon inspection, the probation officer of the county in which the minor is adjudged a ward of the court determines that the out-of-state facility or program is not in compliance with the standards required under paragraph (2) of subdivision (b) or has an adverse impact on the health and safety of the minor, the probation
officer may temporarily remove the minor from the facility or program. The probation officer shall promptly inform the court of the minor’s removal, and shall return the minor to the court for a hearing to review the suitability of continued out-of-state placement. The probation officer shall, within one business day of removing the minor, notify the State Department of Social Services’ Compact Administrator, and, within five working days, submit a written report of the findings and actions taken.

(d) The court shall review each of these placements for compliance with the requirements of subdivision (b) at least once every six months.

(e) The county shall not be entitled to receive or expend any public funds for the placement of a minor in an out-of-state group home or
short-term residential treatment center, unless the conditions of subdivisions (b) and (d) are met.

SEC. 52.

Section 827.11 is added to the Welfare and Institutions Code, to read:

827.11.

(a) The Legislature finds and declares all of the following:

(1) It is the intent of the Legislature to ensure quality care for children and youth who are placed in the continuum of foster care settings.

(2) Attracting and retaining quality caregivers is critical to achieving positive outcomes for children, youth, and families, and to ensuring the success of child welfare improvement efforts.

(3) Quality caregivers strengthen foster care by ensuring that a foster or relative family caring for a child provides the loving, committed, and
skilled care that the child needs, while working effectively with the child welfare system to reach the child’s goals.

(4) Caregivers who are informed of the child’s educational, medical, dental, and mental health history and current needs are better able to meet those needs and address the effects of trauma, increasing placement stability and improving permanency outcomes.

(5) Sharing necessary information with the caregiver is a critical component of effective service delivery for children and youth in foster care.

(b) Therefore, consistent with state and federal law, information shall be provided to a caregiver regarding the child’s or youth’s educational, medical, dental, and mental health history and current needs.

(c) This section is declaratory of existing law and is not intended to impose a new program or higher level of service upon any local agency. It is intended, however, that this restatement of existing law should engender a renewed sense of commitment to engaging foster parents in order to provide quality care to children and youth in foster care.

(d) No later than January 1, 2017, the department shall consult with representatives of the County Counsels’ Association of California, County Welfare Directors Association of California, and stakeholders to develop regulations or identify policy changes necessary to allow for the sharing of information as described in this section.

SEC. 53.

Section 832 is added to the Welfare and Institutions Code, to read:

832.

(a) (1) To promote more effective communication needed for the development of a plan to address the needs of the child or youth and family, a person designated as a member of a child and family team as defined in paragraph (4) of subdivision (a) of Section 16501 may receive and disclose relevant information and records, subject to the confidentiality provisions of state and federal law.

(2) Information exchanged among the team shall be received in confidence for the limited
purpose of providing necessary services and supports to the child or youth and family and shall not be further disclosed except to the juvenile court with jurisdiction over the child or as otherwise required by law. Civil and criminal penalties may apply to the inappropriate disclosure of information held by the team.

(b) (1) Each participant in the child and family team with legal power to consent shall sign an authorization to release information to team members. In the event that a child or youth who is a dependent or ward of the juvenile court does not have the legal power to consent to the release of information, the child’s attorney or other authorized individual may consent on behalf of the child.

(2) Authorization to release information shall be in writing
and shall comply with all other applicable state law governing release of medical, mental health, social service, and educational records, and that covers identified team members, including service providers, in order to permit the release of records to the team.

(3) This authorization shall not include release of adoption records.

(4) The knowing and informed consent to release information given pursuant to this section shall only be in force for the time that the child or youth, or family, or nonminor dependent, is
participating in the child and family team.

(c) Upon obtaining the authorization to release information as described in subdivision (b), relevant information and records may be shared with members of the team. If the team determines that the disclosure of information would present a reasonable risk of a significant adverse or detrimental effect on the child’s or youth’s psychological or physical safety, the information shall not be released.

(d) Information and records communicated or provided to the team, by all providers, programs, and agencies, as well as information and records created by the team in the course of serving its children, youth, and their families, shall be deemed private and confidential and shall be protected from discovery and disclosure by all
applicable statutory and common law. Nothing in this section shall be construed to affect the authority of a health care provider to disclose medical information pursuant to paragraph (1) of subdivision (c) of Section 56.10 of the Civil Code.

(e) If the child welfare agency files or records, or any portions thereof, are privileged or confidential, pursuant to any other state law, except Section 827, or federal law or regulation, the requirements of that state law or federal law or regulation prohibiting or limiting release of the child welfare agency files or records, or any portions thereof, shall prevail.

(f) All discussions during team meetings are confidential unless disclosure is required by law. Notwithstanding any other law, testimony concerning any team meeting discussion is not
admissible in any criminal or civil proceeding except as provided in paragraph (2) of subdivision (a).

(g) As used in this section, “privileged information” means any information subject to a privilege pursuant to Division 8 (commencing with Section 900) of the Evidence Code. Disclosure of otherwise privileged information to team members shall not be construed to waive the privilege.

SEC. 54.

Section 4094.2 of the Welfare and Institutions Code is amended to read:

4094.2.

(a) For the purpose of establishing payment rates for community treatment facility programs, the private nonprofit agencies selected to operate these programs shall prepare a budget that covers the total costs of providing residential care and supervision and mental health services for their proposed programs. These costs shall include categories that are allowable under California’s Foster Care program and existing programs for mental health services. They shall not include educational, nonmental health medical, and dental costs.

(b) Each agency operating a community treatment facility program shall negotiate a final budget with the local mental health department in the county in
which its facility is located (the host county) and other local agencies, as appropriate. This budget agreement shall specify the types and level of care and services to be provided by the community treatment facility program and a payment rate that fully covers the costs included in the negotiated budget. All counties that place children in a community treatment facility program shall make payments using the budget agreement negotiated by the community treatment facility provider and the host county.

(c) A foster care rate shall be established for each community treatment facility program by the State Department of Social Services.

(1) These rates shall be established using the existing foster care ratesetting system for group homes, or the rate for a short-term residential
treatment center as defined in subdivision (ad) of Section 11400, with modifications designed as necessary. It is anticipated that all community treatment facility programs will offer the level of care and services required to receive the highest foster care rate provided for under the current ratesetting system.

(2) Except as otherwise provided in paragraph (3), commencing January 1, 2017, the program shall have accreditation from a nationally recognized accrediting entity identified by the State Department of Social Services pursuant to the process described in paragraph (4) of subdivision (b) of Section 11462.

(3) With respect to a program that has been granted an extension pursuant to the exception process described in subdivision (d) of Section 11462.04, the requirement described
in paragraph (2) shall apply to that program commencing January 1, 2018.

(d) For the 2001–02 fiscal year, the 2002–03 fiscal year, the 2003–04 fiscal year, and the 2004–05 fiscal year, community treatment facility programs shall also be paid a community treatment facility supplemental rate of up to two thousand five hundred dollars ($2,500) per child per month on behalf of children eligible under the foster care program and children placed out of home pursuant to an individualized education program developed under Section 7572.5 of the Government Code. Subject to the availability of funds, the supplemental rate shall be shared by the state and the counties. Counties shall be responsible for paying a county share of cost equal to 60 percent of the community treatment rate for children placed by counties in community treatment
facilities and the state shall be responsible for 40 percent of the community treatment facility supplemental rate. The community treatment facility supplemental rate is intended to supplement, and not to supplant, the payments for which children placed in community treatment facilities are eligible to receive under the foster care program and the existing programs for mental health services.

(e) For initial ratesetting purposes for community treatment facility funding, the cost of mental health services shall be determined by deducting the foster care rate and the community treatment facility supplemental rate from the total allowable cost of the community treatment facility program. Payments to certified providers for mental health services shall be based on eligible services provided to children who are Medi-Cal beneficiaries, up to
the approved federal rate for these services.

(f) The State Department of Health Care Services shall provide the community treatment facility supplemental rates to the counties for advanced payment to the community treatment facility providers in the same manner as the regular foster care payment and within the same required payment time limits.

(g) In order to facilitate the study of the costs of community treatment facilities, licensed community treatment facilities shall provide all documents regarding facility operations, treatment, and placements requested by the department.

(h) It is the intent of the Legislature that the State Department of Health Care Services and the State Department of Social Services work to
maximize federal financial participation in funding for children placed in community treatment facilities through funds available pursuant to Titles IV-E and XIX of the federal Social Security Act (Title 42 U.S.C. Sec. 670 et seq. and Sec. 1396 et seq.) and other appropriate federal programs.

(i) The State Department of Health Care Services and the State Department of Social Services may adopt emergency regulations necessary to implement joint protocols for the oversight of community treatment facilities, to modify existing licensing regulations governing reporting requirements and other procedural and administrative mandates to take into account the seriousness and frequency of behaviors that are likely to be exhibited by seriously emotionally disturbed children placed in community treatment facility programs, to modify the existing foster
care ratesetting regulations, and to pay the community treatment facility supplemental rate. The adoption of these regulations shall be deemed to be an emergency and necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health and safety, and general welfare. The regulations shall become effective immediately upon filing with the Secretary of State. The regulations shall not remain in effect more than 180 days unless the adopting agency complies with all the provisions of Chapter 3.5 (commencing with Section 11340) of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code, as required by subdivision (e) of Section 11346.1 of the Government Code.

SEC. 55.

Section 4096 of the Welfare and Institutions Code is amended to read:

4096.

(a) (1) Interagency collaboration and children’s program services shall be structured in a manner that will facilitate future implementation of the goals of Part 4 (commencing with Section 5850) of Division 5 to develop protocols outlining the roles and responsibilities of placing agencies and group homes regarding emergency and nonemergency placements of foster children in group homes.

(2) Components shall be added to state-county performance contracts required in Section 5650 that provide for reports from counties on how this section is implemented.

(4) Performance contracts subject to this section shall document that the procedures to be implemented in compliance with this section have been approved by the county social services department and the county probation department.

(b) Funds specified in subdivision (a) of Section 17601 for services to wards of the court and dependent children of the court shall be allocated and distributed to counties based on the number of wards of the court and dependent children of the court in the county.

(c) A county may utilize funds allocated pursuant to subdivision (b) only if the county has an established and operational interagency
placement committee, with a membership that includes at least the county placement agency and a licensed mental health professional from the county department of mental health. If necessary, the funds may be used for costs associated with establishing the interagency placement committee.

(d) Subsequent to the establishment of an interagency placement committee, funds allocated pursuant to subdivision (b) shall be used to provide services to wards of the court and dependent children of the court jointly identified by county mental health, social services, and probation departments as the highest priority. Every effort shall be made to match those funds with funds received pursuant to Title XIX of the federal Social Security Act, contained in Subchapter 19 (commencing with Section 1396) of Chapter 7 of Title 42 of the United States Code.

(e) (1) Each interagency placement committee shall establish procedures whereby a ward of the court or dependent child of the
court, or a voluntarily placed child whose placement is funded by the Aid to Families with Dependent Children-Foster Care Program, who is to be placed or is currently placed in a group home program at a rate classification level 13 or rate classification level 14 as
specified in Section 11462.01, is assessed as seriously emotionally disturbed, as described in subdivision (a) of Section 5600.3.

(2) The assessment required by paragraph (1) shall also indicate that the child or youth is in need of the care and services provided by that group home program.

(f) The interagency placement committee shall document the results of the assessment required by subdivision (e) and shall notify the appropriate group home provider and county placing agency, in writing, of those results within 10 days of the completion of the assessment.

(g) If the child’s or youth’s placement is not funded by the Aid to Families with Dependent Children-Foster Care Program, a licensed mental health
professional, which is defined to include a physician licensed under Section 2050 of the Business and Professions Code, a licensed psychologist within the meaning of subdivision (a) of Section 2902 of the Business and Professions Code, a licensed clinical social worker within the meaning of subdivision (a) of Section 4996 of the Business and Professions Code, a licensed marriage and family therapist within the meaning of subdivision (b) of Section 4980 of the Business and Professions Code, or a licensed professional clinical counselor within the meaning of subdivision (e) of Section 4999.12, shall certify that the child is assessed as seriously emotionally disturbed, as described in subdivision (a) of Section 5600.3.

(h) This section shall remain in effect only until January 1, 2017, and as of that date is repealed, unless a
later enacted statute, that is enacted before January 1, 2017, deletes or extends that date.

SEC. 56.

Section 4096 is added to the Welfare and Institutions Code, to read:

4096.

(a) (1) Interagency collaboration and children’s program services shall be structured in a manner that will facilitate implementation of the goals of Part 4 (commencing with Section 5850) of Division 5 to develop protocols outlining the roles and responsibilities of placing agencies and short-term residential treatment
centers regarding nonemergency placements of foster children in certified short-term residential treatment centers or foster family agencies.

(2) Components shall be added to state-county performance contracts required in Section 5650 that provide for reports from counties on how this section is implemented.

(4) Performance contracts subject to this section shall document that the procedures to be implemented in compliance with this section have been approved by the county social services department and the county probation department.

(b) Funds specified in subdivision (a) of Section 17601 for services to wards of the court and dependent children of the court shall be allocated and distributed to counties based on the number of wards of the court and dependent children of the court in the county.

(c) A county may utilize funds allocated pursuant to subdivision (b) only if the county has established an operational interagency placement committee with a membership that includes at least the county placement agency and a licensed mental health professional from the county department of mental health. If necessary, the funds may be used for costs associated with establishing the interagency placement committee.

(d) Funds allocated pursuant to subdivision (b) shall be used to provide services to wards
of the court and dependent children of the court jointly identified by county mental health, social services, and probation departments as the highest priority. Every effort shall be made to match those funds with funds received pursuant to Title XIX of the federal Social Security Act, contained in Subchapter 19 (commencing with Section 1396) of Chapter 7 of Title 42 of the United States Code.

(e) (1) Each interagency placement committee shall establish procedures whereby a ward of the court or dependent child of the court, or a voluntarily placed child whose placement is funded by the Aid to Families with Dependent Children-Foster Care Program, who is to be placed or is currently placed in a short-term residential treatment center program, as specified in Section 11462.01, or a group home granted an extension
pursuant to Section 11462.04, shall be assessed to determine whether he or she meets the medical necessity criteria for Medi-Cal specialty mental health Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnosis, and Treatment services, as the criteria are described in Section 1830.210 of Title 9 of the California Code of Regulations, or assessed as seriously emotionally disturbed, as described in subdivision (a) of Section 5600.3.

(2) The assessment required by paragraph (1) shall also indicate that the child is in need of the care and services provided by a short-term residential
treatment center.

(3) Nothing in this subdivision shall prohibit an interagency placement committee from considering an assessment that was provided by a licensed mental health professional, as described in subdivision (g), and that was developed consistent with procedures established by the county pursuant to paragraph (1).

(f) The interagency placement committee shall document the results of the assessment required by subdivision (e) and shall notify the appropriate provider in writing, of those results within 10 days of the completion of the assessment.

(g) If the child’s or youth’s placement is not funded by the Aid to Families with Dependent Children-Foster Care Program, a licensed
mental health professional, or an otherwise recognized provider of mental health services, shall certify that the child has been assessed as meeting the medical necessity criteria for Medi-Cal specialty mental health Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnosis, and Treatment services, as the criteria are described in Section 1830.210 of Title 9 of the California Code of Regulations, or assessed as seriously emotionally disturbed, as described in subdivision (a) of Section 5600.3. A “licensed mental health professional” includes a physician licensed under Section 2050 of the Business and Professions Code, a licensed psychologist within the meaning of subdivision (a) of Section 2902 of the Business and Professions Code, a licensed clinical social worker within the meaning of subdivision (a) of Section 4996 of the Business and Professions Code, a licensed marriage and family therapist within the meaning
of subdivision (b) of Section 4980 of the Business and Professions Code, or a licensed professional clinical counselor within the meaning of subdivision (e) of Section
4999.12.

(h) This section shall become operative on January 1, 2017.

SEC. 57.

Section 4096.1 is added to the Welfare and Institutions Code, to read:

4096.1.

(a) (1) Interagency collaboration and children’s program services shall be structured in a manner that will facilitate future implementation of the goals of Part 4 (commencing with Section 5850) of Division 5 to develop protocols outlining the roles and responsibilities of placing agencies and group homes regarding emergency and nonemergency placements of foster children in group homes.

(2) Components shall be added to state-county performance contracts required in Section 5650 that provide for reports from counties on how this section is implemented.

(4) Performance contracts subject to this section shall document that the procedures to be implemented in compliance with this section have been approved by the county social services department and the county probation department.

(b) Funds specified in subdivision (a) of Section 17601 for services to wards of the court and dependent children of the court shall be allocated and distributed to counties based on the number of wards of the court and dependent children of the court in the county.

(c) A county may utilize funds allocated pursuant to subdivision (b) only if the county has established an operational interagency
placement committee, with a membership that includes at least the county placement agency and a licensed mental health professional from the county department of mental health. If necessary, the funds may be used for costs associated with establishing the interagency placement committee.

(d) Subsequent to the establishment of an interagency placement committee, funds allocated pursuant to subdivision (b) shall be used to provide services to wards of the court and dependent children of the court jointly identified by county mental health, social services, and probation departments as the highest priority. Every effort shall be made to match those funds with funds received pursuant to Title XIX of the federal Social Security Act, contained in Subchapter 19 (commencing with Section 1396) of Chapter 7 of Title 42 of the United
States Code.

(e) (1) Each interagency placement committee shall establish procedures whereby a ward of the court or dependent child of the court, or a voluntarily placed child whose placement is funded by the Aid to Families with Dependent Children-Foster Care Program, who is to be placed or is currently placed in a group home program at a rate classification level 13 or rate classification level 14 as specified in Section 11462.001, is assessed as seriously emotionally disturbed, as described in subdivision (a) of Section 5600.3.

(2) The assessment required by paragraph (1) shall also indicate that the child or youth is in need of the care and services provided by that group home program.

(f) The
interagency placement committee shall document the results of the assessment required by subdivision (e) and shall notify the appropriate group home provider and county placing agency, in writing, of those results within 10 days of the completion of the assessment.

(g) If the child’s or youth’s placement is not funded by the Aid to Families with Dependent Children-Foster Care Program, a licensed mental health professional, as defined in subdivision (g) of Section 4096, shall certify that the child has been assessed as seriously emotionally disturbed, as described in subdivision (a) of Section 5600.3.

(h) This section shall only apply to a group home that has been granted an extension pursuant to the exception process described in subdivision (d) of Section 11462.04 or that
has been granted an extension pursuant to the exception process described in subdivision (d) of Section 11463.1.

(i) This section shall become operative on January 1, 2017.

(j) This section shall remain in effect only until January 1, 2019, and as of that date is repealed, unless a later enacted statute, that is enacted before January 1, 2019, deletes or extends that date.

SEC. 58.

Section 4096.5 of the Welfare and Institutions Code is amended to read:

4096.5.

(a) The State Department of Health Care Services shall make a determination, within 45 days of receiving a request from a group home to be classified at RCL 13 or RCL 14 pursuant to Section 11462.01, to certify or deny certification that the group home program includes provisions for mental health treatment services that meet the needs of children who have been assessed as seriously emotionally disturbed, as described in subdivision (a) of Section 5600.3. The department shall issue each certification for a period of one year and shall specify the effective date the program met the certification requirements. A program may be recertified if the program continues to meet the criteria for certification.

(b) The State Department of Health Care Services shall, in consultation with the County Behavioral Health Directors Association of California and representatives of provider organizations, develop the criteria for the certification required by subdivision (a) by July 1, 1992.

(c) (1) The State Department of Health Care Services may, upon the request of a county, delegate to that county the certification task.

(2) Any county to which the certification task is delegated pursuant to paragraph (1) shall use the criteria and format developed by the department.

(d) The State Department of Health Care Services or delegated county shall notify the
State Department of Social Services Community Care Licensing Division immediately upon the termination of any certification issued in accordance with subdivision (a).

(e) Upon receipt of notification from the State Department of Social Services Community Care Licensing Division of any adverse licensing action taken after the finding of noncompliance during an inspection conducted pursuant to Section 1538.7 of the Health and Safety Code, the State Department of Health Care Services or the delegated county shall review the certification issued pursuant to this section.

(f) This section shall remain in effect only until January 1, 2017, and as of that date is repealed, unless a later enacted statute, that is enacted before January 1, 2017, deletes or extends that
date.

SEC. 59.

Section 4096.5 is added to the Welfare and Institutions Code, to read:

4096.5.

(a) All short-term residential treatment centers that operate a mental health program that serves children who have either been assessed as meeting the medical necessity criteria for Medi-Cal specialty mental health services under Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnosis, and Treatment services, as the criteria are described in Section 1830.20 of Title 9 of the California Code of Regulations, or who have been assessed as seriously emotionally disturbed, as described in subdivision (a) of Section 5600.3, shall obtain and have in good standing a mental health certification, as described in Section 11462.01, issued by the State Department of Health Care Services or a county mental health plan to which the department
has delegated certification authority. This certification is a condition for receiving an Aid to Families with Dependent Children-Foster Care rate pursuant to Section 11462.01.

(b) The State Department of Health Care Services or a county mental health plan to which the department has delegated certification authority shall certify or deny certification within 45 days of receiving a certification request. The State Department of Health Care Services or a county mental health plan to which the department has delegated certification authority shall issue each certification for a period of one year and shall specify the effective date that the program met the program standards. Certified entities shall meet all program standards to be recertified.

(c) The State Department of Health Care
Services shall promulgate regulations regarding program standards, oversight, enforcement, and due process for the mental health certification of short-term residential treatment
centers.

(d) (1) Except for certification of short-term residential treatment centers operated by a county, the State Department of Health Care Services may, upon the request of a county, delegate to that county mental health plan the certification of short-term residential treatment center programs within its borders.

(2) Any county to which certification is delegated pursuant to paragraph (1) shall be responsible for the oversight and enforcement of program standards and the provision of due process for certified entities.

(e) The State Department of Health Care Services or a county mental health plan to which the department has delegated certification authority shall
notify the State Department of Social Services immediately upon the termination of any certification issued in accordance with subdivisions (a) and (b).

(f) The State Department of Social Services shall notify the State Department of Health Care Services or a county to which the department has delegated certification authority immediately upon the revocation of any license issued pursuant to Chapter 3 (commencing with Section 1500) of Division 2 of the Health and Safety Code.

(g) Revocation of a license or a mental health certification shall be a basis for rate termination.

(h) This section shall become operative on January 1, 2017.

SEC. 60.

Section 4096.55 is added to the Welfare and Institutions Code, to read:

4096.55.

(a) The State Department of Health Care Services shall make a determination, within 45 days of receiving a request from a group home to be classified at rate classification level 13 or rate classification level 14 pursuant to Section 11462.015, to certify or deny certification that the group home program includes provisions for mental health treatment services that meet the needs of children who have been assessed as seriously emotionally disturbed, as described in subdivision (a) of Section 5600.3. The department shall issue each certification for a period of one year and shall specify the effective date the program met the certification requirements. A program may be recertified if the program continues to meet the
criteria for certification.

(b) The State Department of Health Care Services shall, in consultation with the County Behavioral Health Directors Association of California and representatives of provider organizations, develop the criteria for the certification required by subdivision (a).

(c) (1) The State Department of Health Care Services may, upon the request of a county, delegate to that county the certification task.

(2) Any county to which the certification task is delegated pursuant to paragraph (1) shall use the criteria and format developed by the department.

(d) The State Department of Health Care Services or delegated county
shall notify the State Department of Social Services Community Care Licensing Division immediately upon the termination of any certification issued in accordance with subdivision (a).

(e) Upon receipt of notification from the State Department of Social Services Community Care Licensing Division of any adverse licensing action taken after the finding of noncompliance during an inspection conducted pursuant to Section 1538.7 of the Health and Safety Code, the State Department of Health Care Services or the delegated county shall review the certification issued pursuant to this section.

(f) This section shall only apply to a group home that has been granted an extension pursuant to the exception process described in subdivision (d) of Section 11462.04.

(g) This section shall become operative on January 1, 2017.

(h) This section shall remain in effect only until January 1,
2019, and as of that date is repealed, unless a later enacted statute, that is enacted before January 1, 2019, deletes or extends that date.

SEC. 61.

Section 5600.3 of the Welfare and Institutions Code is amended to read:

5600.3.

To the extent resources are available, the primary goal of the use of funds deposited in the mental health account of the local health and welfare trust fund should be to serve the target populations identified in the following categories, which shall not be construed as establishing an order of priority:

(a) (1) Seriously emotionally disturbed children or adolescents.

(2) For the purposes of this part, “seriously emotionally disturbed children or adolescents” means minors under the age of 18 years who have a mental disorder as identified in the most recent edition of the Diagnostic and
Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, other than a primary substance use disorder or developmental disorder, which results in behavior inappropriate to the child’s age according to expected developmental norms. Members of this target population shall meet one or more of the following criteria:

(A) As a result of the mental disorder, the child has substantial impairment in at least two of the following areas: self-care, school functioning, family relationships, or ability to function in the community; and either of the following occur:

(i) The child is at risk of removal from home or has already been removed from the home.

(ii) The mental disorder and impairments have been present for more than six months or are
likely to continue for more than one year without treatment.

(B) The child displays one of the following: psychotic features, risk of suicide or risk of violence due to a mental disorder.

(C) The child
has been assessed pursuant to Article 2 (commencing with Section 56320) of Chapter 4 of Part 30 of Division 4 of Title 2 of the Education Code and determined to have an emotional disturbance, as defined in paragraph (4) of subdivision (c) of Section 300.8 of Title 34 of the Code of Federal Regulations.

(b) (1) Adults and older adults who have a serious mental disorder.

(2) For the purposes of this part, “serious mental disorder” means a mental disorder that is severe in degree and persistent in duration, which may cause behavioral functioning which interferes substantially with the primary activities of daily living, and which may result in an inability to maintain stable adjustment and independent functioning without treatment, support, and rehabilitation
for a long or indefinite period of time. Serious mental
disorders include, but are not limited to, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, as well as major affective disorders or other severely disabling mental disorders. This section shall not be construed to exclude persons with a serious mental disorder and a diagnosis of substance abuse, developmental disability, or other physical or mental disorder.

(3) Members of this target population shall meet all of the following criteria:

(A) The person has a mental disorder as identified in the most recent edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, other than a substance use disorder or developmental disorder or acquired traumatic brain injury pursuant to subdivision (a) of Section 4354 unless that person also has a serious
mental disorder as defined in paragraph (2).

(B) (i) As a result of the mental disorder, the person has substantial functional impairments or symptoms, or a psychiatric history demonstrating that without treatment there is an imminent risk of decompensation to having substantial impairments or symptoms.

(ii) For the purposes of this part, “functional impairment” means being substantially impaired as the result of a mental disorder in independent living, social relationships, vocational skills, or physical condition.

(C) As a result of a mental functional impairment and circumstances, the person is likely to become so disabled as to require public assistance, services, or
entitlements.

(4) For the purpose of organizing outreach and treatment options, to the extent resources are available, this target population includes, but is not limited to, persons who are any of the following:

(D) Persons who require acute treatment as a result of a first episode of mental illness
with psychotic features.

(5) California veterans in need of mental health services and who meet the existing eligibility requirements of this section, shall be provided services to the extent services are available to other adults pursuant to this section. Veterans who may be eligible for mental health services through the United States Department of Veterans Affairs should be advised of these services by the county and assisted in linking to those services.

(A) No eligible veteran shall be denied county mental health services based solely on his or her status as a veteran.

(B) Counties shall refer a veteran to the county veterans service officer, if any, to determine the veteran’s eligibility for, and the availability of,
mental health services provided by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs or other federal health care provider.

(c) Adults or older adults who require or are at risk of requiring acute psychiatric inpatient care, residential treatment, or outpatient crisis intervention because of a mental disorder with symptoms of psychosis, suicidality, or violence.

(d) Persons who need brief treatment as a result of a natural disaster or severe local emergency.

SEC. 62.

Section 10553.12 of the Welfare and Institutions Code is amended to read:

10553.12.

(a) Notwithstanding any other law, a federally recognized tribe is authorized, but not required, to approve a home for the purpose of foster or adoptive placement of an Indian child pursuant to the Federal Indian Child Welfare Act (25 U.S.C. Sec. 1915).

(b) An Indian child, as defined by subdivisions (a) and (b) of Section 224, that has been removed pursuant to Section 361, from the custody or his or her parents or Indian custodian may be placed in a tribally approved home pursuant to Section 1915 of the federal Indian Child Welfare Act.

(c) To facilitate the availability of tribally approved homes that have
been fully approved in accord with federal law, including completion of required background checks, a tribal agency may request from the Department of Justice federal and state summary criminal history information regarding a prospective foster parent or adoptive parent, an adult who resides or is employed in the home of an applicant, any person who has a familial or intimate relationship with any person living in the home of an applicant, or an employee of the child welfare agency who may have contact with children, in accord with subdivision (m) of Section 11105 of the Penal Code and Child Abuse Central Index Information pursuant to paragraph (8) of subdivision (b) of Section 11170 of the Penal Code.

(d) As used in this section, a “tribal agency” means an entity designated by a federally recognized tribe as authorized to approve
homes consistent with the Indian Child Welfare Act for the purpose of placement of Indian children, into foster or adoptive care, including the authority to conduct criminal record and child abuse background checks of, and grant exemptions to, individuals who are prospective foster parents or adoptive parents, an adult who resides or is employed in the home of an applicant for approval, any person who has a familial or intimate relationship with any person living in the home of an applicant, or an employee of the tribal agency who may have contact with children.

(e) A county social worker may place an Indian child in a tribally approved home without having to conduct a separate background check, upon certification by the tribal agency of the following:

(1) The
tribal agency has completed a criminal record background check in accord with the standards set forth in Section 1522 of the Health and Safety Code, and a Child Abuse Central Index Check pursuant to Section 1522.1 of the Health and Safety Code, with respect to each of the individuals described in subdivision (c).

(2) The tribal agency has agreed to report to a county child welfare agency responsible for a child placed in the tribally approved home, within 24 hours of notification to the tribal agency by the Department of Justice, of a subsequent state or federal arrest or disposition notification provided pursuant to Section 11105.2 of the Penal Code involving an individual associated with the tribally approved home where an Indian child is placed.

(3) If the tribal agency in
its certification states that the individual was granted a criminal record exemption, the certification shall specify that the exemption was evaluated in accord with the standards and limitations set forth in paragraph (1) of subdivision (g) of Section 1522 of the Health and Safety Code and was not granted to an individual ineligible for an exemption under that provision.

SEC. 63.

Section 11253.2 is added to the Welfare and Institutions Code, to read:

11253.2.

(a) Notwithstanding any other law, an application for aid filed on behalf of a child to whom Section 309, 361.45, or 16519.5 applies shall be processed pursuant to an expedited process as determined by the department in consultation with the counties.

(b) Subdivision (a) shall not apply if the person who applies for aid on behalf of a child described in subdivision (a) is also an applicant for or a recipient of benefits under this chapter.

(c) (1) Except as provided in paragraph (2), a person who applies for aid on behalf of a child described in subdivision (a) shall be exempt from Chapter 4.6
(commencing with Section 10830) of Part 2 governing the statewide fingerprint imaging system.

(2) A relative caregiver who is also an applicant for or a recipient of benefits under this chapter shall comply with the statewide fingerprint imaging system requirements.

SEC. 64.

Section 11400 of the Welfare and Institutions Code is amended to read:

11400.

For purposes of this article, the following definitions shall apply:

(a) “Aid to Families with Dependent Children-Foster Care (AFDC-FC)” means the aid provided on behalf of needy children in foster care under the terms of this division.

(b) “Case plan” means a written document that, at a minimum, specifies the type of home in which the child shall be placed, the safety of that home, and the appropriateness of that home to meet the child’s needs. It shall also include the agency’s plan for ensuring that the child receive proper care and protection in a safe environment, and shall set forth the appropriate services to be provided to the child, the
child’s family, and the foster parents, in order to meet the child’s needs while in foster care, and to reunify the child with the child’s family. In addition, the plan shall specify the services that will be provided or steps that will be taken to facilitate an alternate permanent plan if reunification is not possible.

(c) “Certified family home” means a family residence certified by a licensed foster family agency and issued a certificate of approval by that agency as meeting licensing standards, and used only by that foster family agency for placements.

(d) “Family home” means the family residence of a licensee in which 24-hour care and supervision are provided for children.

(e) “Small family home” means any residential
facility, in the licensee’s family residence, which provides 24-hour care for six or fewer foster children who have mental disorders or developmental or physical disabilities and who require special care and supervision as a result of their disabilities.

(f) “Foster care” means the 24-hour out-of-home care provided to children whose own families are unable or unwilling to care for them, and who are in need of temporary or long-term substitute parenting.

(g) “Foster family agency” means a licensed community care facility, as defined in paragraph (4) of subdivision (a) of Section 1502 of the Health and Safety
Code. Private foster family agencies shall be organized and operated on a nonprofit basis.

(h) “Group home” means a nondetention privately operated residential home, organized and operated on a nonprofit basis only, of any capacity, or a nondetention licensed residential care home operated by the County of San Mateo with a capacity of up to 25 beds, that accepts children in need of care and supervision in a group home, as defined by paragraph (13) of subdivision (a) of Section 1502 of the Health and Safety Code.

(i) “Periodic review” means review of a child’s status by the juvenile court or by an administrative review panel, that shall include a consideration of the safety of the child, a determination of the continuing need for placement in foster care,
evaluation of the goals for the placement and the progress toward meeting these goals, and development of a target date for the child’s return home or establishment of alternative permanent placement.

(j) “Permanency planning hearing” means a hearing conducted by the juvenile court in which the child’s future status, including
whether the child shall be returned home or another permanent plan shall be developed, is determined.

(k) “Placement and care” refers to the responsibility for the welfare of a child vested in an agency or organization by virtue of the agency or organization having (1) been delegated care, custody, and control of a child by the juvenile court, (2) taken responsibility, pursuant to a relinquishment or termination of parental rights on a child, (3) taken the responsibility of supervising a child detained by the juvenile court pursuant to Section 319 or 636, or (4) signed a voluntary placement agreement for the child’s placement; or to the responsibility designated to an individual by virtue of his or her being appointed the child’s legal guardian.

(l) “Preplacement
preventive services” means services that are designed to help children remain with their families by preventing or eliminating the need for removal.

(m) “Relative” means an adult who is related to the child by blood, adoption, or affinity within the fifth degree of kinship, including stepparents, stepsiblings, and all relatives whose status is preceded by the words “great,” “great-great,” or “grand” or the spouse of any of these persons even if the marriage was terminated by death or dissolution.

(n) “Nonrelative extended family member” means an adult caregiver who has an established familial or mentoring relationship with the child, as described in Section 362.7.

(o) “Voluntary placement” means an out-of-home
placement of a child by (1) the county welfare department, probation department, or Indian tribe that has entered into an agreement pursuant to Section 10553.1, after the parents or guardians have requested the assistance of the county welfare department and have signed a voluntary placement agreement; or (2) the county welfare department licensed public or private adoption agency, or the department acting as an adoption agency, after the parents have requested the assistance of either the county welfare department, the licensed public or private adoption agency, or the department acting as an adoption agency for the purpose of adoption planning, and have signed a voluntary placement agreement.

(p) “Voluntary placement agreement” means a written agreement between either the county welfare department, probation department, or Indian tribe that
has entered into an agreement pursuant to Section 10553.1, licensed public or private adoption agency, or the department acting as an adoption agency, and the parents or guardians of a child that specifies, at a minimum, the following:

(1) The legal status of the child.

(2) The rights and obligations of the parents or guardians, the child, and the agency in which the child is placed.

(q) “Original placement date” means the most recent date on which the court detained a child and ordered an agency to be responsible for supervising the child or the date on which an agency assumed responsibility for a child due to termination of parental rights, relinquishment, or voluntary placement.

(r) (1) “Transitional housing placement provider” means an organization licensed by the State Department of Social Services pursuant to Section 1559.110 of the Health and Safety Code, to provide transitional housing to foster children at least 16 years of age and not more than 18 years of age, and nonminor dependents, as defined in subdivision (v). A transitional housing placement provider shall be privately operated and organized on a nonprofit basis.

(2) Prior to licensure, a provider shall obtain certification from the applicable county, in accordance with Section 16522.1.

(s) “Transitional Housing Program-Plus” means a provider certified by the applicable county, in accordance with subdivision
(c) of Section 16522, to provide transitional housing services to former foster youth who have exited the foster care system on or after their 18th birthday.

(t) “Whole family foster home” means a new or existing family home, approved relative caregiver or nonrelative extended family member’s home, the home of a nonrelated legal guardian whose guardianship was established pursuant to Section 360 or 366.26, certified family home, or a host family home placement of a transitional housing placement provider, that provides foster care for a minor or nonminor dependent parent and his or her child, and is specifically recruited and trained to assist the minor or nonminor dependent parent in developing the skills necessary to provide a safe, stable, and permanent home for his or her child. The child of the minor or nonminor
dependent parent need not be the subject of a petition filed pursuant to Section 300 to qualify for placement in a whole family foster home.

(u) “Mutual agreement” means any of the following:

(1) A written voluntary agreement of consent for continued placement and care in a supervised setting between a minor or, on and after January 1, 2012, a nonminor dependent, and the county welfare services or probation department or tribal agency responsible for the foster care placement, that documents the nonminor’s continued willingness to remain in supervised out-of-home placement under the placement and care of the responsible county, tribe, consortium of tribes, or tribal organization that has entered into an agreement with the state pursuant to Section 10553.1, remain under the
jurisdiction of the juvenile court as a nonminor dependent, and report any change of circumstances relevant to continued eligibility for foster care payments, and that documents the nonminor’s and social worker’s or probation officer’s agreement to work together to facilitate implementation of the mutually developed supervised placement agreement and transitional independent living case plan.

(2) An agreement, as described in paragraph (1), between a nonminor former dependent or ward in receipt of Kin-GAP payments under Article 4.5 (commencing with Section 11360) or Article 4.7 (commencing with Section 11385), and the agency responsible for the Kin-GAP benefits, provided that the nonminor former dependent or ward satisfies the conditions described in Section 11403.01, or one or more of the conditions described in paragraphs (1) to
(5), inclusive, of subdivision (b) of Section 11403. For purposes of this paragraph and paragraph (3), “nonminor former dependent or ward” has the same meaning as described in subdivision (aa).

(3) An agreement, as described in paragraph (1), between a nonminor former dependent or ward in receipt of AFDC-FC payments under subdivision (e) or (f) of Section 11405 and the agency responsible for the AFDC-FC benefits, provided that the nonminor former dependent or ward described in subdivision (e) of Section 11405 satisfies one or more of the conditions described in paragraphs (1) to (5), inclusive, of subdivision (b) of Section 11403, and the nonminor described in subdivision (f) of Section 11405 satisfies the secondary school or equivalent training or certificate program conditions described in that subdivision.

(v) “Nonminor dependent” means, on and after January 1, 2012, a foster child, as described in Section 675(8)(B) of Title 42 of the United States Code under the federal Social Security Act who is a current dependent child or ward of the juvenile court, or who is a nonminor under the transition jurisdiction of the juvenile court, as described in Section 450, and who satisfies all of the following criteria:

(1) He or she has attained 18 years of age while under an order of foster care placement by the juvenile court, and is not more than 19 years of age on or after January 1, 2012, not more than 20 years of age on or after January 1, 2013, or not more than 21 years of age on or after January 1, 2014, and as described in Section 10103.5.

(2) He or she is in foster care under the placement and care responsibility of the county welfare department, county probation department, Indian tribe, consortium of tribes, or tribal organization that entered into an agreement pursuant to Section 10553.1.

(3) He or she has a transitional independent living case plan pursuant to Section 475(8) of the federal Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. Sec. 675(8)), as contained in the federal Fostering Connections to Success and Increasing Adoptions Act of 2008 (Public Law 110-351), as described in Section 11403.

(w) “Supervised independent living placement” means, on and after January 1, 2012, an independent supervised setting, as specified in a nonminor dependent’s transitional independent living case plan, in which the youth is
living independently, pursuant to Section 472(c)(2) of the federal Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. Sec. 672(c)(2)).

(x) “Supervised independent living setting,” pursuant to Section 472(c)(2) of the federal Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. Sec. 672(c)(2)), includes both a supervised independent living placement, as defined in subdivision (w), and a residential housing unit certified by the transitional housing placement provider operating a Transitional Housing Placement-Plus Foster Care program, as described in paragraph (2) of subdivision (a) of Section 16522.1.

(y) “Transitional independent living case plan” means, on or after January 1, 2012, a child’s case plan submitted for the last review hearing held before he or she reaches 18 years of age or the nonminor
dependent’s case plan, updated every six months, that describes the goals and objectives of how the nonminor will make progress in the transition to living independently and assume incremental responsibility for adult decisionmaking, the collaborative efforts between the nonminor and the social worker, probation officer, or Indian tribal placing entity and the supportive services as described in the transitional independent living plan (TILP) to ensure active and meaningful participation in one or more of the eligibility criteria described in paragraphs (1) to (5), inclusive, of subdivision (b) of Section 11403, the nonminor’s appropriate supervised placement setting, and the nonminor’s permanent plan for transition to living independently, which includes maintaining or obtaining permanent connections to caring and committed adults, as set forth in paragraph (16) of subdivision (f) of Section
16501.1.

(z) “Voluntary reentry agreement” means a written voluntary agreement between a former dependent child or ward or a former nonminor dependent, who has had juvenile court jurisdiction terminated pursuant to Section 391, 452, or 607.2, and the county welfare or probation department or tribal placing entity that documents the nonminor’s desire and willingness to reenter foster care, to be placed in a supervised setting under the placement and care responsibility of the placing agency, the nonminor’s desire, willingness, and ability to immediately participate in one or more of the conditions of paragraphs (1) to (5), inclusive, of subdivision (b) of Section 11403, the nonminor’s agreement to work collaboratively with the placing agency to develop his or her transitional independent living case plan within 60 days of reentry, the
nonminor’s agreement to report any changes of circumstances relevant to continued eligibility for foster care payments, and (1) the nonminor’s agreement to participate in the filing of a petition for juvenile court jurisdiction as a nonminor dependent pursuant to subdivision (e) of Section 388 within 15 judicial days of the signing of the agreement and the placing agency’s efforts and supportive services to assist the nonminor in the reentry process, or (2) if the nonminor meets the definition of a nonminor former dependent or ward, as described in subdivision (aa), the nonminor’s agreement to return to the care and support of his or her former juvenile court-appointed guardian and meet the eligibility criteria for AFDC-FC pursuant to subdivision (e) of Section 11405.

(aa) “Nonminor former dependent or ward” means, on and after January 1, 2012,
either of the following:

(1) A nonminor who reached 18 years of age while subject to an order for foster care placement, and for whom dependency, delinquency, or transition jurisdiction has been terminated, and who is still under the general jurisdiction of the court.

(2) A nonminor who is over 18 years of age and, while a minor, was a dependent child or ward of the juvenile court when the guardianship was established pursuant to Section 360 or 366.26, or subdivision (d), of Section 728 and the juvenile court dependency or wardship was dismissed following the establishment of the guardianship.

(ab) “Runaway and homeless youth shelter” means a type of group home, as defined in paragraph (14) of subdivision (a) of Section
1502 of the Health and Safety Code, that is not an eligible placement option under Sections 319, 361.2, 450, and 727, and that is not eligible for AFDC-FC funding pursuant to subdivision (c) of Section 11402 or Section 11462.

(ac) “Transition dependent” is a minor between 17 years and five months and 18 years of age who is subject to the court’s transition jurisdiction under Section 450.

(ad) “Short-term residential treatment center” means a nondetention, licensed community care facility, as defined in paragraph (18) of subdivision (a) of Section 1502 of the Health and Safety Code, that provides short-term, specialized, and intensive treatment for the child or youth, when the child’s or
youth’s case plan specifies the need for, nature of, and anticipated duration of this specialized treatment.

(af) “Core Services” mean services, made available to children, youth, and nonminor dependents either directly or secured through formal agreement with other agencies, which are trauma informed and culturally relevant as specified in Sections 11462 and 11463.

SEC. 65.

Section 11402 of the Welfare and Institutions Code is amended to read:

11402.

In order to be eligible for AFDC-FC, a child or nonminor dependent shall be placed in one of the following:

(a) Prior to January 1, 2019, the approved home of a relative, provided the child or youth is otherwise eligible for federal financial participation in the AFDC-FC payment.

(b) (1) Prior to January 1, 2019, the licensed family home of a nonrelative.

(2) Prior to January 1, 2019, the approved home of a nonrelative extended family member as described in Section 362.7.

(c) The approved home of a
resource family as defined in Section 16519.5.

(d) A licensed group home, as defined in subdivision (h) of Section 11400, excluding a runaway and homeless youth shelter as defined in subdivision (ab) of Section 11400, provided that the placement worker has documented that the placement is necessary to meet the treatment needs of the child or youth and that the facility offers those treatment services.

(e) The home of a nonrelated legal guardian or the home of a former nonrelated legal guardian when the guardianship of a child or youth who is otherwise eligible for AFDC-FC has been dismissed due to the child or youth attaining 18 years of age.

(f) An exclusive-use home.

(g) A housing model certified by a licensed transitional housing placement provider as described in Section 1559.110 of the Health and Safety Code and as defined in subdivision (r) of Section 11400.

(h) An out-of-state group home, provided that the placement worker, in addition to complying with all other statutory requirements for placing a child or youth in an out-of-state group home, documents that the requirements of Section 7911.1 of the Family Code have been met.

(i) An approved supervised independent living setting for nonminor dependents, as defined in subdivision (w) of Section 11400.

(j) This section shall remain in effect only until January 1, 2017, and as of that date is repealed,
unless a later enacted statute, that is enacted before January 1, 2017, deletes or extends that date.

SEC. 66.

Section 11402 is added to the Welfare and Institutions Code, to read:

11402.

In order to be eligible for AFDC-FC, a child or nonminor dependent shall be placed in one of the following:

(a) Prior to January 1, 2019, the approved home of a relative, provided the child or youth is otherwise eligible for federal financial participation in the AFDC-FC payment.

(b) (1) Prior to January 1, 2019, the home of a nonrelated legal guardian or the home of a former nonrelated legal guardian when the guardianship of a child or youth who is otherwise eligible for AFDC-FC has been dismissed due to the child or youth attaining 18 years of age.

(2) Prior to January 1, 2019, the approved home of a nonrelative extended family member, as described in Section 362.7.

(c) (1) Prior to January 1, 2019, the licensed family home of a nonrelative.

(2) The approved home of a resource family, as defined in Section 16519.5.

(d) (1) A housing model certified by a licensed transitional housing placement provider, as described in Section 1559.110 of the Health and Safety Code, and as defined in subdivision (r) of Section 11400.

(2) An approved supervised independent living setting for nonminor dependents, as defined in subdivision (w) of Section 11400.

(e) A licensed foster family agency, as defined in subdivision (g) of Section 11400 and paragraph (4) of subdivision (a) of Section 1502 of the Health and Safety Code, for placement into a certified or approved home.

(f) A short-term residential treatment center licensed as a community care facility, as defined in subdivision (ad) of Section 11400 and paragraph (18) of subdivision (a) of Section 1502 of the Health and Safety Code.

(g) An out-of-state group home that meets the
requirements of paragraph (2) of subdivision (c) of Section 11460, provided that the placement worker, in addition to complying with all other statutory requirements for placing a child or youth in an out-of-state group home, documents that the requirements of Section 7911.1 of the Family Code have been met.

(h) A community treatment facility set forth in Article 5 (commencing with Section 4094) of Chapter 3 of Part 1 of Division 4.

(i) This section shall become operative on January 1, 2017.

SEC. 67.

Section 11402.01 is added to the Welfare and Institutions Code, immediately following Section 11402, to read:

11402.01.

In order to be eligible for AFDC-FC, a child or nonminor dependent shall be placed in one of the following:

(a) Prior to January 1, 2019, the approved home of a relative, provided the child or youth is otherwise eligible for federal financial participation, as defined in Section 11402.1, in the AFDC-FC payment.

(b) (1) Prior to January 1, 2019, the licensed family home of a nonrelative.

(2) Prior to January 1, 2019, the approved home of a nonrelative extended family member as described in Section 362.7.

(c) The approved home of a resource family as defined in Section 16519.5.

(d) A licensed group home, as defined in subdivision (h) of Section 11400, excluding a runaway and homeless youth shelter as defined in subdivision (ab) of Section 11400, provided that the placement worker has documented that the placement is necessary to meet the treatment needs of the child or youth and that the facility offers those treatment services.

(e) The home of a nonrelated legal guardian or the home of a former nonrelated legal guardian when the guardianship of a child or youth who is otherwise eligible for AFDC-FC has been dismissed due to the child or youth attaining 18 years of age.

(f) A licensed foster family agency, as defined in subdivision (g) of Section 11400 and paragraph (4) of subdivision (a) of Section 1502 of the Health and Safety Code for placement into a
home certified by the agency as meeting licensing standards.

(g) A housing model certified by a licensed transitional housing placement provider as described in Section 1559.110 of the Health and Safety Code and as defined in subdivision (r) of Section 11400.

(h) An out-of-state group home, provided that the placement worker, in addition to complying with all other statutory requirements for placing a minor in an out-of-state group home, documents that the requirements of Section 7911.1 of the Family Code have been met.

(i) An approved supervised independent living setting for nonminor dependents, as defined in subdivision (w) of Section 11400.

(j) This section shall only apply to a group home that has been granted an extension pursuant to the exception process described in subdivision (d) of Section 11462.04 or to a foster family agency that has been granted an extension pursuant to the exception process described in subdivision (d) of Section 11463.1.

(k) This section shall become operative on January 1, 2017.

(l) This section shall remain in effect only until January 1, 2019, and as of that date is repealed, unless a later enacted statute, that is enacted before January 1, 2019, deletes or extends that date.

SEC. 68.

Section 11403.2 of the Welfare and Institutions Code is amended to read:

11403.2.

(a) The following persons shall be eligible for transitional housing provided pursuant to Article 4 (commencing with Section 16522) of Chapter 5 of Part 4:

(1) Any foster child at least 16 years of age and not more than 18 years of age, and, on or after January 1, 2012, any nonminor dependent, as defined in subdivision (v) of Section 11400, who is eligible for AFDC-FC benefits as described in Section 11401. A foster child under 18 years of age shall be eligible for placement in the program certified as a “Transitional Housing Placement Program,” pursuant to paragraph (1) of subdivision (a) of Section 16522.1. A nonminor dependent shall be eligible for placement in the program
certified as a “Transitional Housing Placement-Plus Foster Care Program” pursuant to paragraph (2) of subdivision (a) of Section 16522.1.

(2) (A) Any former foster youth at least 18 years of age and, except as provided in subparagraph (B), not more than 24 years of age who has exited from the foster care system on or after his or her 18th birthday and elects to participate in Transitional Housing Program-Plus, as defined in subdivision (s) of Section 11400, if he or she has not received services under this paragraph for more than a total of 24 months, whether or not consecutive. If the person participating in a Transitional Housing Program-Plus is not receiving aid under Section 11403.1, he or she, as a condition of participation, shall enter into, and execute the provisions of, a transitional independent living plan
that shall be mutually agreed upon, and annually reviewed, by the former foster youth and the applicable county welfare or probation department or independent living program coordinator. The person participating under this paragraph shall inform the county of any changes to conditions specified in the agreed-upon plan that affect eligibility, including changes in address, living circumstances, and the educational or training program.

(B) A county may, at its option, extend the services provided under subparagraph (A) to former foster youth not more than 25 years of age, and for a total of 36 months, whether or not consecutive, if the former foster youth, in addition to the requirements specified in subparagraph (A), meets either of the following criteria:

(i) The
former foster youth is completing secondary education or a program leading to an equivalent credential.

(ii) The former foster youth is enrolled in an institution that provides postsecondary education.

(b) Payment on behalf of an eligible person receiving transitional housing services pursuant to paragraph (1) of subdivision (a) shall be made to the transitional housing placement provider pursuant to the conditions and limitations set forth in Section 11403.3. Notwithstanding Section 11403.3, the department, in consultation with concerned stakeholders, including, but not limited to, representatives of the Legislature, the County Welfare Directors Association of California, the Chief Probation Officers of California, the Judicial Council, representatives of Indian tribes, the
California Youth Connection, former foster youth, child advocacy organizations, labor organizations, juvenile justice advocacy organizations, foster caregiver organizations, researchers, and transitional housing placement providers, shall convene a workgroup to establish a new rate structure for the Title IV-E funded THP-Plus Foster Care placement option for nonminor
dependents. The workgroup shall also consider application of this new rate structure to the Transitional Housing Program-Plus, as described in paragraph (2) of subdivision (a) of Section 11403.3. In developing the new rate structure pursuant to this subdivision, the department shall consider the average rates in effect and being paid by counties to current transitional housing placement providers.

(c) The Legislature finds and declares that this subdivision was added in 2015 to clearly codify the requirement of existing law regarding the payment made on behalf of an eligible person receiving transitional housing services. The workgroup described in subdivision (b) recommended, and the department subsequently implemented, an annual adjustment to the payment made on behalf of an eligible person receiving transitional housing
services. This annual adjustment has been, and shall continue to be, equal to the California Necessities Index applicable to each fiscal year. The Legislature hereby codifies that its intent remains in making this annual adjustment to support the care and supervision, including needed services and supports, for nonminor dependents who are receiving transitional housing services through the THP-Plus Foster Care Program.

SEC. 69.

Section 11460 of the Welfare and Institutions Code is amended to read:

11460.

(a) Foster care providers shall be paid a per child per month rate in return for the care and supervision of the AFDC-FC child placed with them. The department is designated the single organizational unit whose duty it shall be to administer a state system for establishing rates in the AFDC-FC program. State functions shall be performed by the department or by delegation of the department to county welfare departments or Indian tribes, consortia of tribes, or tribal organizations that have entered into an agreement pursuant to Section 10553.1.

(b) “Care and supervision” includes food, clothing, shelter, daily supervision, school supplies, a child’s personal incidentals, liability insurance
with respect to a child, reasonable travel to the child’s home for visitation, and reasonable travel for the child to remain in the school in which he or she is enrolled at the time of placement. Reimbursement for the costs of educational travel, as provided for in this subdivision, shall be made pursuant to procedures determined by the department, in consultation with representatives of county welfare and probation directors, and additional stakeholders, as appropriate.

(1) For a child or youth placed in a short-term residential treatment center or a group home, care and supervision shall also include reasonable administration and operational activities necessary to provide the items listed in this subdivision.

(2) For a child or youth placed in a short-term residential treatment
center or a group home, care and supervision may also include reasonable activities performed by social workers employed by the program provider that are not otherwise considered daily supervision or administration activities, but are eligible for federal financial participation under Title IV-E of the federal Social Security Act.

(3) The department, in consultation with the California State Foster Parent Association, and other interested stakeholders, shall provide information to the Legislature, no later than January 1, 2017, regarding the availability and cost for liability and property insurance covering acts committed by children in care, and shall make recommendations for any needed program development in this area.

(c) It is the intent of the Legislature to establish the
maximum level of financial participation in out-of-state foster care group home program rates for placements in facilities described in subdivision (g) of Section 11402.

(1) The department shall develop regulations that establish the method for determining the level of financial participation in the rate paid for out-of-state placements in facilities described in subdivision (g) of Section 11402. The department shall consider all of the following methods:

(A) Until December 31, 2016, a standardized system based on the rate classification level of care and services per child per month.

(B) The rate developed for a short-term residential treatment center pursuant to Section 11462.

(C) A system that considers the actual allowable and reasonable costs of care and supervision incurred by the out-of-state program.

(D) A system that considers the rate established by the host state.

(E) Any other appropriate methods as determined by the department.

(2) Reimbursement for the Aid to Families with Dependent Children-Foster Care rate to be paid to an out-of-state program described in subdivision (g) of Section 11402 shall only be paid to programs that have done all of the following:

(A) Submitted a rate application to the department, which shall include, but not be limited to, both of the following:

(i) Commencing January 1, 2017, the equivalent of the mental health certification required in Section 4096.5.

(ii) Commencing January 1, 2017, unless granted an extension from the department pursuant to subdivision (d) of Section 11462.04, the national accreditation required in paragraph (5) of subdivision (b) of Section 11462.

(B) Maintained a level of financial participation that shall not exceed any of the following:

(i) The current fiscal year’s standard rate for rate classification level 14 for a group home.

(ii) Commencing January 1, 2017, the current fiscal year’s rate for a short-term
residential treatment center.

(iii) The rate determined by the ratesetting authority of the state in which the facility is located.

(C) Agreed to comply with information requests, and program and fiscal audits as determined necessary by the department.

(3) Except as specifically provided for in statute, reimbursement for an AFDC-FC rate shall only be paid to a group home or short-term residential treatment center organized and operated on a nonprofit basis.

(d) A foster care provider that accepts payments, following the effective date of this section, based on a rate established under this section, shall not receive rate increases or retroactive payments as the
result of litigation challenging rates established prior to the effective date of this section. This shall apply regardless of whether a provider is a party to the litigation or a member of a class covered by the litigation.

(e) Nothing shall preclude a county from using a portion of its county funds to increase rates paid to family homes, foster family agencies, group homes, and short-term residential treatment centers within that county, and to make payments for specialized care increments, clothing allowances, or infant supplements to homes within that county, solely at that county’s expense.

(f) Nothing shall preclude a county from providing a supplemental rate to serve commercially sexually exploited foster children to provide for the additional care and supervision needs of
these children. To the extent that federal financial participation is available, it is the intent of the Legislature that the federal funding shall be utilized.

SEC. 70.

Section 11461.2 of the Welfare and Institutions Code is amended to read:

11461.2.

(a) It is the intent of the Legislature to ensure quality care for children who are placed in the continuum of AFDC-FC eligible placement settings.

(b) The State Department of Social Services shall establish, in consultation with county welfare departments and other stakeholders, as appropriate, a working group to develop recommended revisions to the current ratesetting system, services, and programs serving children and families in the continuum of AFDC-FC eligible placement settings including, at a minimum, all programs provided by foster family agencies and group homes including those providing residentially based services, as defined in paragraph (1) of subdivision (a) of
Section 18987.71.

(c) In developing the recommended revisions identified in subdivision (b), the working group shall consider all of the following:

(1) How ratesetting systems for foster care providers, including, at least, foster family agencies and group homes, can better support a continuum of programs and services that promote positive outcomes for children and families. This may include a process for matching the child’s strengths and needs to the appropriate placement setting.

(2) How the provision of an integrated, comprehensive set of services including mental health and other critical services for children and youth support the achievement of well-being, permanency, and safety outcomes.

(3) How to ensure the provision of services in a family setting that promotes normal childhood experiences and that serves the needs of the child, including aftercare services, when appropriate.

(4) How to provide outcome-based evaluations of foster care providers or other methods of measuring quality improvement including measures of youth and families’ satisfaction with services provided and program effectiveness.

(5) How changes in the licensing, ratesetting, and auditing processes can improve the quality of foster care providers, the quality of services and programs provided, and enhance the oversight of care provided to children, including, but not limited to, accreditation, administrator qualifications, and the
reassignment of these responsibilities within the department.

(d) In addition to the considerations in subdivision (c), the workgroup recommendations shall be based on the review and evaluation of the current ratesetting systems, actual cost data, and information from the provider community as well as research on other applicable ratesetting methodologies, evidence-based practices, information developed as a result of pilots approved by the director, and any other relevant information.

(e) (1) The workgroup shall develop the content, format, and data sources for reports to be posted by the department on a public Internet Web site describing the outcomes achieved by providers with foster care rates set by the department.

(2) Commencing January 1, 2017, and at least semiannually after that date, the department shall publish and make available on a public Internet Web site, short-term residential treatment center and foster family agency provider performance indicators.

(f) (1) Recommendations developed pursuant to this section shall include the plan required under subdivision (d) of Section 18987.7. Updates regarding the workgroup’s establishment and its progress toward meeting the requirements of this section shall be provided to the Legislature during 2012–13 and 2013–14 budget hearings. The revisions recommended pursuant to the requirements of subdivision (b) shall be submitted in a report to the appropriate policy and fiscal committees of the Legislature by October 1, 2014.

(2) The requirement for submitting a report pursuant to this subdivision is inoperative on October 1, 2018, pursuant to Section 10231.5 of the Government Code.

(g) The department shall retain the authority to extend the workgroup after October 1, 2014, to ensure that the objectives of this section are met and to reconvene this workgroup as necessary to address any future recommended changes to the continuum of AFDC-FC eligible placement settings pursuant to this section.

SEC. 71.

Section 11462 of the Welfare and Institutions Code is amended to read:

11462.

(a) (1) Effective July 1, 1990, foster care providers licensed as group homes, as defined in departmental regulations, including public child care institutions, as defined in Section 11402.5, shall have rates established by classifying each group home program and applying the standardized schedule of rates. The department shall collect information from group providers beginning January 1, 1990, in order to classify each group home program.

(2) Notwithstanding paragraph (1), foster care providers licensed as group homes shall have rates established only if the group home is organized and operated on a nonprofit basis as required under subdivision (h) of
Section 11400. The department shall terminate the rate effective January 1, 1993, of any group home not organized and operated on a nonprofit basis as required under subdivision (h) of Section 11400.

(3) (A) The department shall determine, consistent with the requirements of this chapter and other relevant requirements under law, the rate classification level (RCL) for each group home program on a biennial basis. Submission of the biennial rate application shall be made according to a schedule determined by the department.

(B) The department shall adopt regulations to implement this paragraph. The adoption, amendment, repeal, or readoption of a regulation authorized by this paragraph is deemed to be necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace,
health and safety, or general welfare, for purposes of Sections 11346.1 and 11349.6 of the Government Code, and the department is hereby exempted from the requirement to describe specific facts showing the need for immediate action.

(b) A group home program shall be initially classified, for purposes of emergency regulations, according to the level of care and services to be provided using a point system developed by the department and described in the report, “The Classification of Group Home Programs under the Standardized Schedule of Rates System,” prepared by the State Department of Social Services, August 30, 1989.

(c) The rate for each RCL has been determined by the department with data from the AFDC-FC Group Home Rate Classification Pilot Study. The rates
effective July 1, 1990, were developed using 1985 calendar year costs and reflect adjustments to the costs for each fiscal year, starting with the 1986–87 fiscal year, by the amount of the California Necessities Index computed pursuant to the methodology described in Section 11453. The data obtained by the department using 1985 calendar year costs shall be updated and revised by January 1, 1993.

(d) As used in this section, “standardized schedule of rates” means a listing of the 14 rate classification levels, and the single rate established for each RCL.

(e) Except as specified in paragraph (1), the department shall determine the RCL for each group home program on a prospective basis, according to the level of care and services that the group home operator projects will be
provided during the period of time for which the rate is being established.

(1) (A) (i) For new and existing providers requesting the establishment of an RCL, and for existing group home programs requesting an RCL increase, the department shall determine the RCL no later than 13 months after the effective date of the provisional rate. The determination of the RCL shall be based on a program audit of documentation and other information that verifies the level of care and supervision provided by the group home program during a period of the two full calendar months or 60 consecutive days, whichever is longer, preceding the date of the program audit, unless the group home program requests a lower RCL. The program audit shall not cover the first six months of operation under the provisional rate.

(ii) For audit purposes, if the group home program serves a mixture of AFDC-FC eligible and ineligible children, the weighted hours for child care and social work services provided and the capacity of the group home shall be adjusted by the ratio of AFDC-FC eligible children to all children in placement.

(iii) Pending the department’s issuance of the program audit report that determines the RCL for the group home program, the group home program shall be eligible to receive a provisional rate that shall be based on the level of care and service that the group home program proposes it will provide. The group home program shall be eligible to receive only the RCL determined by the department during the pendency of any appeal of the department’s RCL determination.

(B) A group home program may apply for an increase in its RCL no earlier than two years from the date the department has determined the group home program’s rate, unless the host county, the primary placing county, or a regional consortium of counties submits to the department in writing that the program is needed in that county, that the provider is capable of effectively and efficiently operating the proposed program, and that the provider is willing and able to accept AFDC-FC children for placement who are determined by the placing agency to need the level of care and services that will be provided by the program.

(C) To ensure efficient administration of the department’s audit responsibilities, and to avoid the fraudulent creation of records, group home programs shall make
records that are relevant to the RCL determination available to the department in a timely manner. Except as provided in this section, the department may refuse to consider, for purposes of determining the rate, any documents that are relevant to the determination of the RCL that are not made available by the group home provider by the date the group home provider requests a hearing on the department’s RCL determination. The department may refuse to consider, for purposes of determining the rate, the following records, unless the group home provider makes the records available to the department during the fieldwork portion of the department’s program audit:

(i) Records of each employee’s full name, home address, occupation, and social security number.

(ii) Time records showing when
the employee begins and ends each work period, meal periods, split shift intervals, and total daily hours worked.

(iii) Total wages paid each payroll period.

(iv) Records required to be maintained by licensed group home providers under Title 22 of the California Code of Regulations that are relevant to the RCL determination.

(D) To minimize financial abuse in the startup of group home programs, when the department’s RCL determination is more than three levels lower than the RCL level proposed by the group home provider, and the group home provider does not appeal the department’s RCL determination, the department shall terminate the rate of a group home program 45 days after issuance of its program audit report.
When the group home provider requests a hearing on the department’s RCL determination, and the RCL determined by the director under subparagraph (E) is more than three levels lower than the RCL level proposed by the group home provider, the department shall terminate the rate of a group home program within 30 days of issuance of the director’s decision. Notwithstanding the reapplication provisions in subparagraph (B), the department shall deny any request for a new or increased RCL from a group home provider whose RCL is terminated pursuant to this subparagraph, for a period of no greater than two years from the effective date of the RCL termination.

(E) A group home provider may request a hearing of the department’s RCL determination under subparagraph (A) no later than 30 days after the date the department issues its RCL determination.
The department’s RCL determination shall be final if the group home provider does not request a hearing within the prescribed time. Within 60 days of receipt of the request for hearing, the department shall conduct a hearing on the RCL determination. The standard of proof shall be the preponderance of the evidence and the burden of proof shall be on the department. The hearing officer shall issue the proposed decision within 45 days of the close of the evidentiary record. The director shall adopt, reject, or modify the proposed decision, or refer the matter back to the hearing officer for additional evidence or findings within 100 days of issuance of the proposed decision. If the director takes no action on the proposed decision within the prescribed time, the proposed decision shall take effect by operation of law.

(2) Group home programs that
fail to maintain at least the level of care and services associated with the RCL upon which their rate was established shall inform the department. The department shall develop regulations specifying procedures to be applied when a group home fails to maintain the level of services projected, including, but not limited to, rate reduction and recovery of overpayments.

(3) The department shall not reduce the rate, establish an overpayment, or take other actions pursuant to paragraph (2) for any period that a group home program maintains the level of care and services associated with the RCL for children actually residing in the facility. Determinations of levels of care and services shall be made in the same way as modifications of overpayments are made pursuant to paragraph (2) of subdivision (b) of Section 11466.2.

(4) A group home program that substantially changes its staffing pattern from that reported in the group home program statement shall provide notification of this change to all counties that have placed children currently in care. This notification shall be provided whether or not the RCL for the program may change as a result of the change in staffing pattern.

(f) (1) The standardized schedule of rates for the 2002–03, 2003–04, 2004–05, 2005–06, 2006–07, and 2007–08 fiscal years is:

FY 2002–03, 2003–04, 2004–05, 2005–06, 2006–07, and
2007–08

Rate Classification Level

_____
Point Ranges

Standard Rate

1

Under 60

$1,454

2

60–89

1,835

3

90–119

2,210

4

120–149

2,589

5

150–179

2,966

6

180–209

3,344

7

210–239

3,723

8

240–269

4,102

9

270–299

4,479

10

300–329

4,858

11

330–359

5,234

12

360–389

5,613

13

390–419

5,994

14

420 & Up

6,371

(2) (A) For group home programs that receive AFDC-FC payments for services performed during the 2002–03, 2003–04, 2004–05, 2005–06, 2006–07,
2007–08, 2008–09, and 2009–10 fiscal years, the adjusted RCL point ranges below shall be used for establishing the biennial rates for existing programs, pursuant to paragraph (3) of subdivision (a) and in performing program audits and in determining any resulting rate reduction, overpayment assessment, or other actions pursuant to paragraph (2) of subdivision (e):

Adjusted Point Ranges

for the 2002–03, 2003–04,

Rate Classification Level

2004–05, 2005–06, 2006–07, 2007–08, 2008–09, and 2009–10 Fiscal Years

1

Under 54

2

54–81

3

82–110

4

111–138

5

139–167

6

168–195

7

196–224

8

225–253

9

254–281

10

282–310

11

311–338

12

339–367

13

368–395

14

396 & Up

(B) Notwithstanding subparagraph (A), foster care providers operating group homes during the 2002–03, 2003–04, 2004–05, 2005–06, 2006–07, 2007–08, 2008–09, and 2009–10 fiscal years shall remain responsible for ensuring the health and safety of the children placed in their programs in accordance with existing applicable provisions of the Health and Safety Code and community care licensing regulations, as contained in Title 22 of the California Code of Regulations.

(C) Subparagraph (A) shall not apply to program audits of group home programs with provisional rates established pursuant to paragraph (1) of subdivision (e). For those program audits, the RCL point ranges in paragraph (1) shall be used.

(D) Rates applicable for the 2009–10 fiscal year pursuant to the act that adds this subparagraph shall be effective October 1, 2009.

(3) (A) For group home programs that receive AFDC-FC payments for services performed during the 2009–10 fiscal year the adjusted RCL point ranges below shall be used for establishing the biennial rates for existing programs, pursuant to paragraph (3) of subdivision (a) and in performing program audits and in determining any resulting rate reduction, overpayment assessment, or other actions pursuant to paragraph (2) of subdivision (e):

Rate

Adjusted Point Ranges

Classification

for the 2009–10

Level

Fiscal Years

1

Under 39

2

39–64

3

65–90

4

91–115

5

116–141

6

142–167

7

168–192

8

193–218

9

219–244

10

245–270

11

271–295

12

296–321

13

322–347

14

348 & Up

(B) Notwithstanding subparagraph (A), foster care providers operating group homes during the 2009–10 fiscal year shall remain responsible for ensuring the health and safety of the children placed in their programs in accordance with existing applicable provisions of the Health and Safety Code and community care licensing regulations as contained in Title 22 of the California Code of Regulations.

(C) Subparagraph (A) shall not apply to program audits of group
home programs with provisional rates established pursuant to paragraph (1) of subdivision (e). For those program audits, the RCL point ranges in paragraph (1) shall be used.

(g) (1) (A) For the 1999–2000 fiscal year, the standardized rate for each RCL shall be adjusted by an amount equal to the California Necessities Index computed pursuant to the methodology described in Section 11453. The resultant amounts shall constitute the new standardized schedule of rates, subject to further adjustment pursuant to subparagraph (B).

(B) In addition to the adjustment in subparagraph (A), commencing January 1, 2000, the standardized rate for each RCL shall be increased by 2.36 percent, rounded to the nearest dollar. The resultant amounts shall
constitute the new standardized schedule of rates.

(2) Beginning with the 2000–01 fiscal year, the standardized schedule of rates shall be adjusted annually by an amount equal to the CNI computed pursuant to Section 11453, subject to the availability of funds. The resultant amounts shall constitute the new standardized schedule of rates.

(3) Effective January 1, 2001, the amount included in the standard rate for each Rate Classification Level (RCL) for the salaries, wages, and benefits for staff providing child care and supervision or performing social work activities, or both, shall be increased by 10 percent. This additional funding shall be used by group home programs solely to supplement staffing, salaries,
wages, and benefit levels of staff specified in this paragraph. The standard rate for each RCL shall be recomputed using this adjusted amount and the resultant rates shall constitute the new standardized schedule of rates. The department may require a group home receiving this additional funding to certify that the funding was utilized in accordance with the provisions of this section.

(4) Effective January 1, 2008, the amount included in the standard rate for each RCL for the wages for staff providing child care and supervision or performing social work activities, or both, shall be increased by 5 percent, and the amount included for the
payroll taxes and other employer-paid benefits for these staff shall be increased from 20.325 percent to 24 percent. The standard rate for each RCL shall be recomputed using these adjusted amounts, and the resulting rates shall constitute the new standardized schedule of rates.

(5) The new standardized schedule of rates as provided for in paragraph (4) shall be reduced by 10 percent, effective October 1, 2009, and the resulting rates shall constitute the new standardized schedule of rates.

(6) The rates of licensed group home providers, whose rates are not established under the standardized schedule of rates, shall be reduced by 10 percent, effective October 1, 2009.

(h) The standardized schedule of rates
pursuant to subdivisions (f) and (g) shall be implemented as follows:

(1) Any group home program that received an AFDC-FC rate in the prior fiscal year at or above the standard rate for the RCL in the current fiscal year shall continue to receive that rate.

(2) Any group home program that received an AFDC-FC rate in the prior fiscal year below the standard rate for the RCL in the current fiscal year shall receive the RCL rate for the current year.

(i) (1) The department shall not establish a rate for a new program of a new or existing provider, or for an existing program at a new location of an existing provider, unless the provider submits a letter of recommendation from the host county, the primary
placing county, or a regional consortium of counties that includes all of the following:

(A) That the program is needed by that county.

(B) That the provider is capable of effectively and efficiently operating the program.

(C) That the provider is willing and able to accept AFDC-FC children for placement who are determined by the placing agency to need the level of care and services that will be provided by the program.

(D) That, if the letter of recommendation is not being issued by the host county, the primary placing county has notified the host county of its intention to issue the letter and the host county was given the opportunity of 30 days to respond to this
notification and to discuss options with the primary placing county.

(2) The department shall encourage the establishment of consortia of county placing agencies on a regional basis for the
purpose of making decisions and recommendations about the need for, and use of, group home programs and other foster care providers within the regions.

(3) The department shall annually conduct a county-by-county survey to determine the unmet placement needs of children placed pursuant to Section 300 and Section 601 or 602, and shall publish its findings by November 1 of each year.

(j) The department shall develop regulations specifying ratesetting procedures for program expansions, reductions, or modifications, including increases or decreases in licensed capacity, or increases or decreases in level of care or services.

(k) For the purpose of this subdivision, “program change” means any alteration to an
existing group home program planned by a provider that will increase the RCL or AFDC-FC rate. An increase in the licensed capacity or other alteration to an existing group home program that does not increase the RCL or AFDC-FC rate shall not constitute a program change.

(l) General unrestricted or undesignated private charitable donations and contributions made to charitable or nonprofit organizations shall not be deducted from the cost of providing services pursuant to this section. The donations and contributions shall not be considered in any determination of maximum expenditures made by the department.

(m) This section shall remain in effect only until January 1, 2017, and as of that date is repealed, unless a later enacted statute, that is enacted
before January 1, 2017, deletes or extends that date.

SEC. 72.

Section 11462 is added to the Welfare and Institutions Code, to read:

11462.

(a) The department shall commence development of a new payment structure for short-term residential treatment center program placements claiming Title IV-E funding, in consultation with county placing agencies and providers.

(b) The department shall develop a rate system that includes consideration of all of the following factors:

(1) Core services, made available to children and nonminor dependents either directly or secured through formal agreements with other agencies, which are trauma informed and culturally relevant and include:

(A) Access
to specialty mental health services for children who meet medical necessity criteria for specialty mental health services under the Medi-Cal Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnosis, and Treatment program.

(B) Transition support services for children, youth, and families upon initial entry and placement changes and for families who assume permanency through reunification, adoption, or guardianship.

(C) Educational and physical, behavioral, and mental health supports, including extracurricular activities and social supports.

(D) Activities designed to support transition-age youth and nonminor dependents in achieving a successful adulthood.

(E) Services to
achieve permanency, including supporting efforts to reunify or achieve adoption or guardianship and efforts to maintain or establish relationships with parents, siblings, extended family members, tribes, or others important to the child or youth, as appropriate.

(F) When serving Indian children, as defined in subdivisions (a) and (b) of Section 224.1, the core services described in paragraphs (A) to (E), inclusive, which shall be provided to eligible children consistent with active efforts pursuant to Section 361.7.

(G) (i) Facilitating the identification and, as needed, the approval of resource families pursuant to Section 16519.5, for the purpose of transitioning children and youth to family-based care.

(ii) If a short-term residential treatment center elects to approve and monitor resource families directly, the center shall comply with all laws applicable to foster family agencies, including, but not limited to, those set forth in the Community Care Facilities Act (Chapter 3 (commencing with Section 1500) of Division 2 of the Health and Safety Code).

(iii) For short-term residential treatment centers that elect to approve and monitor resource families directly, the department shall have all the same duties and responsibilities as those centers have for licensed foster family agencies, as set forth in applicable law, including, but not limited to, those set forth in the Community Care Facilities Act (Chapter 3 (commencing with Section 1500) of Division 2 of the Health and Safety Code).

(2) The core services specified in subparagraphs (A) to (G), inclusive, of paragraph (1) are not intended to duplicate services already available to foster children in the community, but to support access to those services and supports to the extent they are already available. Those services and supports may include, but are not limited to, foster youth services available through county offices of education, Indian Health Services, or school-based extra-curricular activities.

(3) Specialized and intensive treatment supports that encompass the elements of nonmedical care and supervision necessary to meet a child’s or youth’s safety and other needs that cannot be met in a family-based setting.

(4) Staff training.

(5) Health and Safety Code requirements.

(6) Accreditation that includes:

(A) Provision for all licensed short-term residential treatment centers to obtain and maintain in good standing accreditation from a nationally recognized accreditation agency, as identified by the department, with expertise in programs for children or youth group care facilities, as determined by the department.

(B) Promulgation by the department of information identifying that agency or agencies from which accreditation shall be required.

(C) Provision for timely reporting to the department of any change in accreditation status.

(7) Mental health certification, including a requirement to timely report to the department any change in mental health certificate status.

(8) Maximization of federal financial participation under Title IV-E and Title XIX of the Social Security Act.

(c) The department shall develop a system of governmental monitoring and oversight that shall be carried out in coordination with the State Department of Health Care Services. Oversight responsibilities shall include, but not be limited to, ensuring conformity with federal and state law, including program, fiscal, and health and safety audits and reviews. The state agencies shall attempt to minimize duplicative audits and reviews to reduce the administrative burden on providers.

(d) This section shall become operative on January 1, 2017.

SEC. 73.

Section 11462.001 is added to the Welfare and Institutions Code, immediately following Section 11462, to read:

11462.001.

(a) (1) Foster care providers licensed as group homes, as defined in departmental regulations, including public child care institutions, as defined in Section 11402.5, shall have rates established by classifying each group home program and applying the standardized schedule of rates. The department shall collect information from group providers in order to classify each group home program.

(2) Notwithstanding paragraph (1), foster care providers licensed as group homes shall have rates established only if the group home is organized and operated on a nonprofit basis as required under subdivision (h) of Section 11400. The department shall
terminate the rate of any group home not organized and operated on a nonprofit basis as required under subdivision (h) of Section 11400.

(3) (A) The department shall determine, consistent with the requirements of this chapter and other relevant requirements under law, the rate classification level (RCL) for each group home program on a biennial basis. Submission of the biennial rate application shall be made according to a schedule determined by the department.

(B) The department shall adopt regulations to implement this paragraph. The adoption, amendment, repeal, or readoption of a regulation authorized by this paragraph is deemed to be necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health and safety, or general welfare, for purposes of
Sections 11346.1 and 11349.6 of the Government Code, and the department is hereby exempted from the requirement to describe specific facts showing the need for immediate action.

(b) A group home program shall be initially classified, for purposes of emergency regulations, according to the level of care and services to be provided using a point system developed by the department and described in the report, “The Classification of Group Home Programs under the Standardized Schedule of Rates System,” prepared by the State Department of Social Services, August 30, 1989.

(c) The rate for each RCL has been determined by the department with data from the AFDC-FC Group Home Rate Classification Pilot Study.

(d) As
used in this section, “standardized schedule of rates” means a listing of the 14 rate classification levels, and the single rate established for each RCL.

(e) Except as specified in paragraph (1), the department shall determine the RCL for each group home program on a prospective basis, according to the level of care and services that the group home operator projects will be provided during the period of time for which the rate is being established.

(1) (A) (i) For new and existing providers requesting the establishment of an RCL, and for existing group home programs requesting an RCL increase, the department shall determine the RCL no later than 13 months after the effective date of the provisional rate. The determination of the RCL shall be
based on a program audit of documentation and other information that verifies the level of care and supervision provided by the group home program during a period of the two full calendar months or 60 consecutive days, whichever is longer, preceding the date of the program audit, unless the group home program requests a lower RCL. The program audit shall not cover the first six months of operation under the provisional rate.

(ii) For audit purposes, if the group home program serves a mixture of AFDC-FC eligible and ineligible children, the weighted hours for child care and social work services provided and the capacity of the group home shall be adjusted by the ratio of AFDC-FC eligible children to all children in placement.

(iii) Pending the department’s issuance of the
program audit report that determines the RCL for the group home program, the group home program shall be eligible to receive a provisional rate that shall be based on the level of care and service that the group home program proposes it will provide. The group home program shall be eligible to receive only the RCL determined by the department during the pendency of any appeal of the department’s RCL determination.

(B) A group home program may apply for an increase in its RCL no earlier than two years from the date the department has determined the group home program’s rate, unless the host county, the primary placing county, or a regional consortium of counties submits to the department in writing that the program is needed in that county, that the provider is capable of effectively and efficiently operating the proposed program, and
that the provider is willing and able to accept AFDC-FC children for placement who are determined by the placing agency to need the level of care and services that will be provided by the program.

(C) To ensure efficient administration of the department’s audit responsibilities, and to avoid the fraudulent creation of records, group home programs shall make records that are relevant to the RCL determination available to the department in a timely manner. Except as provided in this section, the department may refuse to consider, for purposes of determining the rate, any documents that are relevant to the determination of the RCL that are not made available by the group home provider by the date the group home provider requests a hearing on the department’s RCL determination. The department may refuse to consider, for purposes
of determining the rate, the following records, unless the group home provider makes the records available to the department during the fieldwork portion of the department’s program audit:

(i) Records of each employee’s full name, home address, occupation, and social security number.

(ii) Time records showing when the employee begins and ends each work period, meal periods, split shift intervals, and total daily hours worked.

(iii) Total wages paid each payroll period.

(iv) Records required to be maintained by licensed group home providers under Title 22 of the California Code of Regulations that are relevant to the RCL determination.

(D) To minimize financial abuse in the startup of group home programs, when the department’s RCL determination is more than three levels lower than the RCL level proposed by the group home provider, and the group home provider does not appeal the department’s RCL determination, the department shall terminate the rate of a group home program 45 days after issuance of its program audit report. When the group home provider requests a hearing on the department’s RCL determination, and the RCL determined by the director under subparagraph (E) is more than three levels lower than the RCL level proposed by the group home provider, the department shall terminate the rate of a group home program within 30 days of issuance of the director’s decision. Notwithstanding the reapplication provisions in subparagraph (B), the department shall deny any
request for a new or increased RCL from a group home provider whose RCL is terminated pursuant to this subparagraph, for a period of no greater than two years from the effective date of the RCL termination.

(E) A group home provider may request a hearing of the department’s RCL determination under subparagraph (A) no later than 30 days after the date the department issues its RCL determination. The department’s RCL determination shall be final if the group home provider does not request a hearing within the prescribed time. Within 60 days of receipt of the request for hearing, the department shall conduct a hearing on the RCL determination. The standard of proof shall be the preponderance of the evidence and the burden of proof shall be on the department. The hearing officer shall issue the proposed decision within 45 days of the
close of the evidentiary record. The director shall adopt, reject, or modify the proposed decision, or refer the matter back to the hearing officer for additional evidence or findings within 100 days of issuance of the proposed decision. If the director takes no action on the proposed decision within the prescribed time, the proposed decision shall take effect by operation of law.

(2) Group home programs that fail to maintain at least the level of care and services associated with the RCL upon which their rate was established shall inform the department. The department shall develop regulations specifying procedures to be applied when a group home fails to maintain the level of services projected, including, but not limited to, rate reduction and recovery of overpayments.

(3) The department shall not reduce the rate, establish an overpayment, or take other actions pursuant to paragraph (2) for any period that a group home program maintains the level of care and services associated with the RCL for children actually residing in the facility. Determinations of levels of care and services shall be made in the same way as modifications of overpayments are made pursuant to paragraph (2) of subdivision (b) of Section 11466.2.

(4) A group home program that substantially changes its staffing pattern from that reported in the group home program statement shall provide notification of this change to all counties that have placed children currently in care. This notification shall be provided whether or not the RCL for the program may change as a result of the change in staffing pattern.

(f) The standardized schedule of rates pursuant to subdivisions (f) and (g) of Section 11462, as that section read on January 1, 2015, shall be implemented as follows:

(1) Any group home program that received an AFDC-FC rate in the prior fiscal year at or above the standard rate for the RCL in the current fiscal year shall continue to receive that rate.

(2) Any group home program that received an AFDC-FC rate in the prior fiscal year below the standard rate for the RCL in the current fiscal year shall receive the RCL rate for the current year.

(g) (1) The department shall not establish a rate for a new program of a new or existing provider, or for
an existing program at a new location of an existing provider, unless the provider submits a letter of recommendation from the host county, the primary placing county, or a regional consortium of counties that includes all of the following:

(A) That the program is needed by that county.

(B) That the provider is capable of effectively and efficiently operating the program.

(C) That the provider is willing and able to accept AFDC-FC children for placement who are determined by the placing agency to need the level of care and services that will be provided by the program.

(D) That, if the letter of recommendation is not being issued by the host
county, the primary placing county has notified the host county of its intention to issue the letter and the host county was given the opportunity of 30 days to respond to this notification and to discuss options with the primary placing county.

(2) The department shall encourage the establishment of consortia of county placing agencies on a regional basis for the purpose of making decisions and recommendations about the need for, and use of, group home programs and other foster care providers within the regions.

(3) The department shall annually conduct a county-by-county survey to determine the unmet placement needs of children placed pursuant to Section 300 and Section 601 or 602, and shall publish its findings by November 1 of each year.

(h) The department shall develop regulations specifying ratesetting procedures for program expansions, reductions, or modifications, including increases or decreases in licensed capacity, or increases or decreases in level of care or services.

(i) For the purpose of this subdivision, “program change” means any alteration to an existing group home program planned by a provider that will increase the RCL or AFDC-FC rate. An increase in the licensed capacity or other alteration to an existing group home program that does not increase the RCL or AFDC-FC rate shall not constitute a program change.

(j) General unrestricted or undesignated private charitable donations and contributions made to charitable or nonprofit organizations shall not be deducted from the cost of providing services
pursuant to this section. The donations and contributions shall not be considered in any determination of maximum expenditures made by the department.

(k) This section shall only apply to a group home that has been granted an extension pursuant to the exception process described in subdivision (d) of Section 11462.04.

(l) This section shall become operative on January 1, 2017.

(m) This section shall remain in effect only until January 1,
2019, and as of that date is repealed, unless a later enacted statute, that is enacted before January 1, 2019, deletes or extends that date.

SEC. 74.

Section 11462.01 of the Welfare and Institutions Code is amended to read:

11462.01.

(a) Commencing July 1, 1994, a group home program shall be classified at RCL 13 or RCL 14 if the program meets all of the following requirements:

(1) The group home program is providing, or has proposed to provide, the level of care and services necessary to generate sufficient points in the ratesetting process to be classified at RCL 13 if the rate application is for RCL 13 or to be classified at RCL 14 if the rate application is for RCL 14.

(2) (A) (i) The group home provider shall agree not to accept for placement into a group home program AFDC-FC funded children, including
voluntary placements and seriously emotionally disturbed children placed out-of-home pursuant to an individualized education program developed under Article 2 (commencing with Section 56320) of Chapter 4 of Part 30 of Division 4 of Title 2 of the Education Code, who have not been approved for placement by an interagency placement committee, as described by Section 4096. The approval shall be in writing and shall indicate that the interagency placement committee has determined that the child is seriously emotionally disturbed and subject to Section 1502.4 of the Health and Safety Code, and that the child needs the level of care provided by the group home.

(ii) For purposes of clause (i), group home providers who accept seriously emotionally disturbed children who are placed out-of-home pursuant to an individualized education program developed
under Article 2 (commencing with Section 56320) of Chapter 4 of Part 30 of Division 4 of Title 2 of the Education Code shall be deemed to have met the interagency placement committee approval for placement requirements of clause (i) if the individualized education program assessment indicates that the child has been determined to be seriously emotionally disturbed, as described in subdivision (a) of Section 5600.3 and subject to Section 1502.4 of the Health and Safety Code, and needs the level of care described in clause (i).

(B) (i) Nothing in this subdivision shall prevent the emergency placement of a child into a group home program prior to the determination by the interagency placement committee pursuant to clause (i) of subparagraph (A) if a licensed mental health professional, as defined in the
department’s AFDC-FC ratesetting regulations, has evaluated, in writing, the child within 72 hours of placement, and determined the child to be seriously emotionally disturbed, as described in subdivision (a) of Section 5600.3, and in need of the care and services provided by the group home program.

(ii) The interagency placement committee shall, within 30 days of placement pursuant to clause (i), make the determination required by clause (i) of subparagraph (A).

(iii) If, pursuant to clause (ii), the placement is determined to be appropriate, the committee shall transmit the approval, in writing, to the county placing agency and the group home provider.

(iv) If, pursuant to clause (ii) the placement is determined not to
be appropriate, the child shall be removed from the group home and referred to a more appropriate placement, as specified in subdivision (f).

(C) Commencing December 15, 1992, with respect to AFDC-FC funded children, only those children who are approved for placement by an interagency placement committee may be accepted by a group home under this subdivision.

(3) The group home program is certified by the State Department of Health Care Services pursuant to Section 4096.5.

(b) The department shall not establish a rate for a group home requesting a program change to RCL 13 or RCL 14 unless the group home provider submits a recommendation from the host county or the primary placing county that the program is needed and
that the provider is willing and capable of operating the program at the level sought. For purposes of this subdivision, “host county,” “primary placing county,” and “program change” mean the same as defined in the department’s AFDC-FC ratesetting regulations.

(c) The effective date of rates set at RCL 13 or RCL 14 shall be the date that all the requirements are met, but not prior to July 1 of that fiscal year. Nothing in this section shall affect RCL 13 or RCL 14 ratesetting determinations in prior years.

(d) Any group home program that has been classified at RCL 13 or RCL 14 pursuant to the requirements of subdivision (a) shall be reclassified at the appropriate lower RCL with a commensurate reduction in rate if either of the following occurs:

(1) The group home program fails to maintain the level of care and services necessary to generate the necessary number of points for RCL 13 or RCL 14, as required by paragraph (1) of subdivision (a). The determination of points shall be made consistent with the department’s AFDC-FC ratesetting regulations for other rate classification levels.

(2) The group home program fails to maintain a certified mental health treatment program as required by paragraph (3) of subdivision (a).

(3) In the event of a determination under paragraph (1), the group home may appeal the finding or submit a corrective action
plan. The appeal process specified in Section 11466.6 shall be available to RCL 13 and RCL 14 group home providers. During any appeal, the group home shall maintain the appropriate level of care.

(e) The interagency placement committee shall periodically review, but no less often than that required by current law, the placement of the child. If the committee determines that the child no longer needs, or is not benefiting from, placement in a RCL 13 or RCL 14 group home, the committee shall require the removal of the child and a new disposition.

(f) (1) (A) If, at any time subsequent to placement in an RCL 13 or RCL 14 group home program, the interagency placement committee determines either that the child is not seriously emotionally
disturbed, as described in subdivision (a) of Section 5600.3, or is not in need of the care and services provided by the group home program, it shall notify, in writing, both the county placing agency and the group home provider within 10 days of the determination.

(B) The county placing agency shall notify the group home provider, in writing, within five days from the date of the notice from the committee, of the county’s plan for removal of the child.

(C) The county placing agency shall remove the child from the group home program within 30 days from the date of the notice from the interagency placement committee.

(2) (A) If a county placing agency does not remove a child within 30 days from
the date of the notice from the interagency placement committee, the group home provider shall notify the interagency placement committee and the department, in writing, of the county’s failure to remove the child from the group home program.

(B) The group home provider shall make the notification required by subparagraph (A) within five days of the expiration of the 30-day removal period. If notification is made, a group home provider shall not be subject to an overpayment determination due to failure of the county placing agency to remove the child.

(3) Any county placing agency that fails to remove a child from a group home program under this paragraph within 30 days from the date of the notice from the interagency placement committee shall be assessed a penalty in the amount of the
state and federal financial participation in the AFDC-FC rate paid on behalf of the child commencing on the 31st day and continuing until the child is removed.

(g) (1) If any RCL 13 or RCL 14 group home provider discovers that it does not have written approval for placement of any AFDC-FC funded child placed on or after December 15, 1992, from the interagency placement committee, it shall notify the county placing agency, in writing, and shall request the county to obtain approval from the interagency placement committee or remove the child from the group home program. A group home provider shall have 30 days from the child’s first day of placement to discover the placement error and to notify the county placing agency.

(2) Any county placing agency
that receives notification pursuant to paragraph (2) of subdivision (f) shall obtain approval for placement from the interagency placement committee or remove the child from the group home program within 30 days from the date of the notice from the group home provider. The program shall not be reclassified to a lower RCL for a violation of the provisions referred to in this paragraph.

(3) (A) If a county placing agency does not have the placement of a child approved by the interagency placement committee or removed from the group home within 30 days from the date of the notice from the group home provider, the group home provider shall notify the county placing agency and the department, in writing, of the county’s failure to have the placement of the child approved or remove the child from the group home
program.

(B) The group home provider shall make the notification required by subparagraph (A) within five days after the expiration of the 30-day approval or removal period. If notification is made, a group home provider shall not be subject to an overpayment determination due to failure of the county placing agency to remove the child.

(C) Any group home provider that fails to notify the county placing agency pursuant to subparagraph (A) shall be assessed a penalty in the amount of the AFDC-FC rate paid to the group home provider on behalf of the child commencing on the 31st day of placement and continuing until the county placing agency is notified.

(4) Any county placing agency that fails to have the placement of
a child approved or to have the child removed from the group home program within 30 days shall be assessed a penalty in the amount of the state and federal financial participation in the AFDC-FC rate paid on behalf of the child commencing on the 31st day of placement and continuing until the child is removed.

(h) The department shall develop regulations to obtain payment of assessed penalties as provided in this section. For audit purposes and the application of penalties for RCL 13 and RCL 14 programs, the department shall apply statutory provisions that were in effect during the period for which the audit was conducted.

(i) (1) Nothing in this subparagraph shall prohibit a group home classified at RCL 13 or RCL 14 for purposes of the AFDC-FC
program, from accepting private placements of children.

(2) When a referral is not from a public agency and no public funding is involved, there shall be no requirement for public agency review or determination of need.

(3) Children subject to paragraphs (1) and (2) shall have been assessed as seriously emotionally disturbed, as described in subdivision (a) of Section 5600.3, and subject to Section 1502.4 of the Health and Safety Code, by a licensed mental health professional, as defined in subdivision (g) of Section 4096.

(j) A child shall not be placed in a group home program classified at an RCL 13 or RCL 14 if the placement is paid for with county-only funds unless the child is assessed as seriously emotionally
disturbed, as described in subdivision (a) of Section 5600.3, subject to Section 1502.4 of the Health and Safety Code, by a licensed mental health professional, as defined in subdivision (g) of Section 4096.

(k) This section shall remain in effect only until January 1, 2017, and as of that date is repealed, unless a later enacted statute, that is enacted before January 1, 2017, deletes or extends that date.

SEC. 75.

Section 11462.01 is added to the Welfare and Institutions Code, to read:

11462.01.

(a) A short-term residential treatment
center, as defined in subdivision (ad) of Section 11400 and paragraph (18) of subdivision (a) of Section 1502 of the Health and Safety Code, may have a program that is certified by the State Department of Health Care Services or by a county mental health plan to which the department has delegated certification authority, pursuant to Section 4096.5, or a program that is not certified, or both. A short-term residential treatment center shall accept for placement children who meet all of the following criteria, subject to the other requirements of subdivisions (b) and (c):

(1) The child does not require inpatient care in a licensed health facility.

(2) The child has been assessed as requiring the level of services provided in a short-term residential
treatment center in order to maintain the safety and well-being of the child or others due to behaviors, including those resulting from traumas, that render the child or those around the child unsafe or at risk of harm, or that prevent the effective delivery of needed services and supports provided in the child’s own home or in other family settings, such as with a relative, guardian, foster family, resource family, or adoptive family.

(3) The child meets at least one of the following conditions:

(A) The child has been assessed as meeting the medical necessity criteria for Medi-Cal specialty mental health Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnosis, and Treatment Services, as the criteria are described in Section 1830.210 of Title 9 of the California Code of Regulations.

(B) The child has been assessed as seriously emotionally disturbed, as described in subdivision (a) of Section 5600.3.

(C) The child has been assessed as requiring the level of services provided in order to meet his or her behavioral or therapeutic needs. In appropriate circumstances, this may include any of the following:

(i) A commercially sexually exploited child.

(ii) A private voluntary placement, if the youth exhibits status offender behavior, the parents or other relatives feel they cannot control the child’s behavior, and short-term intervention is needed to transition the child back into the home.

(iii) A juvenile sex offender.

(iv) A child who is affiliated with, or impacted by, a gang.

(b) A short-term residential treatment center program that is certified by the State Department of Health Care Services, or by a county mental health plan to which the department has delegated certification authority, pursuant to Section 4096.5, shall solely accept for placement, and provide access to mental health services to, children who meet the criteria in paragraphs (1) and (2) of subdivision (a), and meet the conditions of subparagraph (A) or (B) of paragraph (3) of subdivision (a), or both of those subparagraphs. Mental health services are provided directly by the certified program.

(c) A short-term residential
treatment center program that is not certified pursuant to Section 4096.5 shall solely accept for placement in that program a child who meets the criteria in paragraphs (1) and (2) of subdivision (a), and meets the conditions of subparagraph (A), (B), or (C) of paragraph (3) of subdivision (a), or any combination of those subparagraphs. A child who meets the conditions of subparagraphs (A) and (B) of paragraph (3) of subdivision (a) may be accepted for placement, if the interagency placement committee determines that a short-term residential treatment facility that is not certified has a program that meets the specific needs of the child and there is a commonality of needs with the other children in the short-term residential
treatment center. In this situation, the short-term residential treatment center shall do either of the following:

(1) In the case of a child who is a Medi-Cal beneficiary, arrange for the child to receive specialty mental health services from the county mental health plan.

(2) In all other cases, arrange for the child to receive mental health services.

(d) A foster family agency, as defined in subdivision (g) of Section 11400 and paragraph (4) of subdivision (a) of Section 1502 of the Health and Safety Code, may have a program that is certified by the State Department of Health Care Services, or by a county mental health plan to which the department has delegated certification authority, pursuant to
Section 1810.435 or 1810.436 of Title 9 of the California Code of Regulations, or a program that is not certified, or both. A program, subject to subdivisions (e) and (f), shall provide access to mental health services to the children. A foster family agency, depending on whether or not it has a certified program, shall provide access to mental health services to children who do not require inpatient care in a licensed health facility and who meet any one or more of the following conditions:

(1) A child who has been assessed as meeting the medical necessity criteria for specialty mental health services under the Medi-Cal Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnosis, and Treatment benefit, as the criteria are described in Section 1830.210 of Title 9 of the California Code of Regulations.

(2) A child who has been assessed as seriously emotionally disturbed, as described in subdivision (a) of Section 5600.3.

(3) A child who has been assessed as requiring the level of services to meet his or her behavioral or therapeutic needs.

(e) A foster family agency that is certified as a provider pursuant to Section 1810.435 or 1810.436 of Title 9 of the California Code of Regulations by the State Department of Health Care Services, or by a county mental health plan to which the department has delegated certification authority, shall provide access to mental health services directly to children in its program who do not require inpatient care in a licensed health facility and who meet
the conditions of paragraph (1) or (2) of subdivision (d).

(f) A foster family agency that is not certified as described in subdivision (e) may provide access to mental health services in that program for children who do not require inpatient care in a licensed health facility and who meet the conditions of paragraphs (1) and (2) of subdivision (d). In this situation the foster family agency shall do the following:

(1) In the case of a child who is a Medi-Cal beneficiary, have written interagency protocols in place to arrange for specialty mental health services from the county mental health plan or an organizational provider, as defined in Section 1810.231 of Title 9 of California Code of Regulations.

(2) In all other cases, arrange for the child to receive mental health services.

(g) All short-term residential treatment centers and foster family agencies that operate a certified program shall maintain the level of care and services necessary to meet the needs of the children and youth in their care and shall maintain and have in good standing the appropriate mental health certification issued by the State Department of Health Care Services or a county mental health plan to which the department has delegated certification authority, pursuant to Section 4096.5 of this code or Section 1810.435 or 1810.436 of Title 9 of the California Code of Regulations.

(h) The assessments described in subparagraphs (A) and (B) of paragraph (3) of subdivision (a) and paragraphs (1)
and (2) of subdivision (d), shall be made by all of the following, as applicable:

(1) An interagency placement committee, as described in Section 4096, considering the recommendations from the child and family team, if any are available.

(2) A licensed mental health professional as defined in subdivision (g) of Section 4096.

(3) For the purposes of this section, an AFDC-FC funded child with an individualized education program developed pursuant to Article 2 (commencing with Section 56320) of Chapter 4 of Part 30 of Division 4 of Title 2 of the Education Code that assesses the child as seriously emotionally disturbed, as defined in, and subject to, this section and recommends out-of-home placement at the level
of care provided by the provider, shall be deemed to have met the assessment requirement.

(4) For the purposes of this section, and only for placement into a foster family agency, an AFDC-FC funded child assessed pursuant to subdivision (b) of Section 706.6 or paragraph (2) of subdivision (c) of Section 16501.1, in consultation with a mental health professional, as defined in subdivision (g) of Section 4096.5, shall be deemed to have met the assessment requirement.

(i) The assessments described in subparagraph (C) of paragraph (3) of subdivision (a) and paragraph (3) of subdivision (d) shall be made pursuant to subdivision (b) of Section 706.6 or paragraph (2) of subdivision (c) of Section 16501.1.

(j) (1) The provider shall ensure that AFDC-FC funded children, assessed pursuant to subparagraphs (A) and (B) of paragraph (3) of subdivision (a) or paragraphs (1) and (2) of subdivision (d), who are accepted for placement have been approved for placement by an interagency placement committee, as described in Section 4096, except as provided for in paragraphs (3) and (4) of subdivision (h).

(2) The approval shall be in writing and shall indicate that the interagency placement committee has determined all of the following:

(A) The child meets the medical necessity criteria for Medi-Cal specialty mental health Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnosis, and Treatment services, as the criteria are described in Section 1830.210 of Title 9 of
the California Code of Regulations.

(B) The child is seriously emotionally disturbed, as described in subdivision (a) of Section 5600.3.

(C) Subject to Section 1502.4 of the Health and Safety Code, the child needs the level of care provided by the
program.

(3) (A) Nothing in subdivisions (a) to (i), inclusive, or this subdivision shall prevent an emergency placement of a child or youth into a certified short-term residential treatment center or foster family agency program prior to the determination by the interagency placement committee, but only if a licensed mental health professional, as defined in subdivision (g) of Section 4096, has made a written determination within 72 hours of the child’s or youth’s placement, that the child or youth is seriously emotionally disturbed and is in need of the care and services provided by the certified short-term residential treatment center or foster family agency.

(i) The interagency placement committee, as appropriate, shall, within
30 days of placement, make the determinations, with recommendations from the child and family team, required by this subdivision.

(ii) If it determines the placement is appropriate, the interagency placement committee, with recommendations from the child and family team, shall transmit the approval, in writing, to the county placing agency and the short-term residential treatment center or foster family agency.

(iii) If it determines the placement is not appropriate, the interagency placement committee shall respond pursuant to subparagraph (B).

(B) If the interagency placement committee determines at any time that the placement is not appropriate, it shall, with recommendations from the child and family team,
transmit the disapproval, in writing, to the county placing agency and the short-term residential treatment center or foster family agency, and the child or youth shall be referred to an appropriate placement, as specified in this section.

(k) Commencing January 1, 2017, for AFDC-FC funded children or youth, only those children or youth who are approved for placement, as set forth in this section, may be accepted by a short-term residential treatment center or foster family agency.

(l) The department shall, through regulation, establish consequences for the failure of a short-term residential treatment center, or a foster family agency, to obtain written approval for placement of an AFDC-FC funded child or youth pursuant to this section.

(m) The department shall not establish a rate for a short-term residential treatment center or foster family agency unless the provider submits a recommendation from the host county or the primary placing county that the program is needed and that the provider is willing and capable of operating the program at the level sought. For purposes of this subdivision, “host county,” and “primary placing county,” mean the same as defined in the department’s AFDC-FC ratesetting regulations.

(n) Any certified short-term residential treatment center or foster family agency shall be reclassified and paid at the appropriate program rate for which it is qualified if either of the following occurs:

(1) (A) It fails to maintain the level of care and services necessary to meet the needs of the children and youth in care, as required by subdivision (a). The determination shall be made consistent with the department’s AFDC-FC ratesetting regulations developed pursuant to Sections 11462 and 11463 and shall take into consideration the highest level of care and associated rates for which the program is eligible.

(B) In the event of a determination under this paragraph, the short-term residential treatment center or foster family agency may appeal the finding or submit a corrective action plan. The appeal process specified in Section 11466.6 shall be available to a short-term residential treatment center or foster family agency that provides intensive and therapeutic treatment. During any appeal, the short-term residential
treatment center or foster family agency that provides intensive and therapeutic treatment shall maintain the appropriate level of care.

(2) It fails to maintain a certified mental health treatment program as required by subdivision (g).

(o) In addition to any other review required by law, the child and family team as defined in paragraph (4) of subdivision (a) of Section 16501 may periodically review the placement of the child or youth. If the child and family team make a recommendation that the child or youth no longer needs, or is not benefiting from, placement in a short-term residential treatment center or foster family agency, or one of its programs, the team shall transmit the disapproval, in writing, to the county placing agency to consider a more
appropriate placement.

(p) The department shall develop a process to address placements when, subsequent to the child’s or youth’s placement, a determination is made by the interagency placement team and shall consider the recommendations of the child and family team, either that the child or youth is not in need of the care and services provided by the certified program. The process shall include, but not be limited to:

(1) Notice of the determination in writing to both the county placing agency and the short-term residential treatment center or foster family agency that provides intensive and therapeutic treatment.

(2) Notice of the county’s plan, and a time frame, for removal of the child or
youth in writing to the short-term residential treatment center or foster family agency that provides intensive and therapeutic treatment.

(3) Referral to an appropriate placement.

(4) Actions to be taken if a child or youth is not timely removed from the short-term residential treatment center or foster family agency that provides intensive and therapeutic treatment or placed in an appropriate placement.

(q) (1) Nothing in this section shall prohibit a short-term residential treatment center or foster family agency from accepting private placements of children or youth.

(2) When a referral is not from a public agency and no public funding
is involved, there is no requirement for public agency review nor determination of need.

(3) Children and youth subject to paragraphs (1) and (2) shall have been determined to be seriously emotionally disturbed, as described in subdivision (a) of Section 5600.3, and subject to Section 1502.4 of the Health and Safety Code, by a licensed mental health professional, as defined in subdivision (g) of Section 4096.

(r) This section shall become operative on January 1, 2017.

SEC. 76.

Section 11462.015 is added to the Welfare and Institutions Code, to read:

11462.015.

(a) A group home program shall be classified at RCL 13 or RCL 14 if the program meets all of the following requirements:

(1) The group home program is providing, or has proposed to provide, the level of care and services necessary to generate sufficient points in the ratesetting process to be classified at RCL 13 if the rate application is for RCL 13 or to be classified at RCL 14 if the rate application is for RCL 14.

(2) (A) (i) The group home provider shall agree not to accept for placement into a group home program AFDC-FC funded children, including
voluntary placements and children who have been assessed as seriously emotionally disturbed, as described in subdivision (a) of Section 5600.3, placed out-of-home pursuant to an individualized education program developed under Article 2 (commencing with Section 56320) of Chapter 4 of Part 30 of Division 4 of Title 2 of the Education Code, who have not been approved for placement by an interagency placement committee, as described by Section 4096.1. The approval shall be in writing and shall indicate that the interagency placement committee has determined that the child is seriously emotionally disturbed, as described in subdivision (a) of Section 5600.3, and subject to Section 1502.45 of the Health and Safety Code, and that the child needs the level of care provided by the group home.

(ii) For purposes of clause (i), group home
providers who accept
children who have been assessed as seriously emotionally disturbed, as described in subdivision (a) of Section 5600.3, who are assessed and placed out-of-home pursuant to an individualized education program developed under Article 2 (commencing with Section 56320) of Chapter 4 of Part 30 of Division 4 of Title 2 of the Education Code shall be deemed to have met the interagency placement committee approval for placement requirements of clause (i) if the individualized education program assessment indicates that the child has been determined to be seriously emotionally disturbed, as described in subdivision (a) of Section 5600.3, and subject to Section 1502.45 of the Health and Safety Code, and needs the level of care described in clause (i).

(B) (i) Nothing in this subdivision shall prevent the emergency placement
of a child into a group home program prior to the determination by the interagency placement committee pursuant to clause (i) of subparagraph (A) if a licensed mental health professional, as defined in the department’s AFDC-FC ratesetting regulations, has evaluated, in writing, the child within 72 hours of placement, and has determined the child to be seriously emotionally disturbed, as described in subdivision (a) of Section 5600.3, and in need of the care and services provided by the group home program.

(ii) The interagency placement committee shall, within 30 days of placement pursuant to clause (i), make the determination required by clause (i) of subparagraph (A).

(iii) If, pursuant to clause (ii), the placement is determined to be appropriate, the committee shall transmit
the approval, in writing, to the county placing agency and the group home provider.

(iv) If, pursuant to clause (ii) the placement is determined not to be appropriate, the child shall be removed from the group home and referred to a more appropriate placement, as specified in subdivision (f).

(C) With respect to AFDC-FC funded children, only those children who are approved for placement by an interagency placement committee may be accepted by a group home under this subdivision.

(3) The group home program is certified by the State Department of Health Care Services pursuant to Section 4096.5.

(b) The department shall not establish a rate for a group
home requesting a program change to RCL 13 or RCL 14 unless the group home provider submits a recommendation from the host county or the primary placing county that the program is needed and that the provider is willing and capable of operating the program at the level sought. For purposes of this subdivision, “host county,” “primary placing county,” and “program change” mean the same as defined in the department’s AFDC-FC ratesetting regulations.

(c) The effective date of rates set at RCL 13 or RCL 14 shall be the date that all the requirements are met, but not prior to July 1 of that fiscal year. Nothing in this section shall affect RCL 13 or RCL 14 ratesetting determinations in prior years.

(d) Any group home program that has been classified at RCL
13 or RCL 14 pursuant to the requirements of subdivision (a) shall be reclassified at the appropriate lower RCL with a commensurate reduction in rate if either of the following occurs:

(1) The group home program fails to maintain the level of care and services necessary to generate the necessary number of points for RCL 13 or RCL 14, as required by paragraph (1) of subdivision (a). The determination of points shall be made consistent with the department’s AFDC-FC ratesetting regulations for other rate classification levels.

(2) The group home program fails to maintain a certified mental health treatment program as required by paragraph (3) of subdivision (a).

(3) In the event of a determination under
paragraph (1), the group home may appeal the finding or submit a corrective action plan. The appeal process specified in Section 11466.6 shall be available to RCL 13 and RCL 14 group home providers. During any appeal, the group home shall maintain the appropriate level of care.

(e) The interagency placement committee shall periodically review, but no less often than that required by current law, the placement of the child. If the committee determines that the child no longer needs, or is not benefiting from, placement in a RCL 13 or RCL 14 group home, the committee shall require the removal of the child and a new disposition.

(f) (1) (A) If, at any time subsequent to placement in an RCL 13 or RCL 14 group home program, the
interagency placement committee determines either that the child is not seriously emotionally disturbed or is not in need of the care and services provided by the group home program, it shall notify, in writing, both the county placing agency and the group home provider within 10 days of the determination.

(B) The county placing agency shall notify the group home provider, in writing, within five days from the date of the notice from the committee, of the county’s plan for removal of the child.

(C) The county placing agency shall remove the child from the group home program within 30 days from the date of the notice from the interagency placement committee.

(2) (A) If a county placing agency does not remove
a child within 30 days from the date of the notice from the interagency placement committee, the group home provider shall notify the interagency placement committee and the department, in writing, of the county’s failure to remove the child from the group home program.

(B) The group home provider shall make the notification required by subparagraph (A) within five days of the expiration of the 30-day removal period. If notification is made, a group home provider shall not be subject to an overpayment determination due to failure of the county placing agency to remove the child.

(3) Any county placing agency that fails to remove a child from a group home program under this paragraph within 30 days from the date of the notice from the interagency placement committee shall
be assessed a penalty in the amount of the state and federal financial participation in the AFDC-FC rate paid on behalf of the child commencing on the 31st day and continuing until the child is removed.

(g) (1) If any RCL 13 or RCL 14 group home provider discovers that it does not have written approval for placement of any AFDC-FC funded child from the interagency placement committee, it shall notify the county placing agency, in writing, and shall request the county to obtain approval from the interagency placement committee or remove the child from the group home program. A group home provider shall have 30 days from the child’s first day of placement to discover the placement error and to notify the county placing agency.

(2) Any county placing
agency that receives notification pursuant to paragraph (2) of subdivision (f) shall obtain approval for placement from the interagency placement committee or remove the child from the group home program within 30 days from the date of the notice from the group home provider. The program shall not be reclassified to a lower RCL for a violation of the provisions referred to in this paragraph.

(3) (A) If a county placing agency does not have the placement of a child approved by the interagency placement committee or removed from the group home within 30 days from the date of the notice from the group home provider, the group home provider shall notify the county placing agency and the department, in writing, of the county’s failure to have the placement of the child approved or remove the child from the group home program.

(B) The group home provider shall make the notification required by subparagraph (A) within five days after the expiration of the 30-day approval or removal period. If notification is made, a group home provider shall not be subject to an overpayment determination due to failure of the county placing agency to remove the child.

(C) Any group home provider that fails to notify the county placing agency pursuant to subparagraph (A) shall be assessed a penalty in the amount of the AFDC-FC rate paid to the group home provider on behalf of the child commencing on the 31st day of placement and continuing until the county placing agency is notified.

(4) Any county placing agency that fails to have the placement of a
child approved or to have the child removed from the group home program within 30 days shall be assessed a penalty in the amount of the state and federal financial participation in the AFDC-FC rate paid on behalf of the child commencing on the 31st day of placement and continuing until the child is removed.

(h) The department shall develop regulations to obtain payment of assessed penalties as provided in this section. For audit purposes and the application of penalties for RCL 13 and RCL 14 programs, the department shall apply statutory provisions that were in effect during the period for which the audit was conducted.

(i) (1) Nothing in this subdivision shall prohibit a group home classified at RCL 13 or RCL 14 for purposes of the AFDC-FC program, from accepting
private placements of children.

(2) When a referral is not from a public agency and no public funding is involved, there shall be no requirement for public agency review or determination of need.

(3) Children subject to paragraphs (1) and (2) shall have been assessed as seriously emotionally disturbed, as described in subdivision (a) of Section 5600.3, and subject to Section 1502.45 of the Health and Safety Code, by a licensed mental health professional, as defined in subdivision (g) of Section 4096.

(j) A child shall not be placed in a group home program
classified at an RCL 13 or RCL 14 if the placement is paid for with county-only funds unless the child is assessed as seriously emotionally disturbed, as described in subdivision (a) of Section 5600.3, and subject to Section 1502.45 of the Health and Safety Code, by a licensed mental health professional, as defined in subdivision (g) of Section 4096.

(k) This section shall only apply to a group home that has been granted an extension pursuant to the exception process described in subdivision (d) of Section 11462.04.

(l) This section shall become operative on January 1, 2017.

(m) This section shall remain in effect only until January 1, 2019, and as of that date is repealed, unless a later enacted statute,
that is enacted before January 1, 2019, deletes or extends that date.

SEC. 77.

Section 11462.02 of the Welfare and Institutions Code is amended to read:

11462.02.

(a) Notwithstanding paragraph (2) of subdivision (a) of Section 11462, a foster care provider licensed as a group home also may have a rate established if the group home is operated by the County of San Mateo, as provided by subdivision (h) of Section 11400.

(b) This section shall remain in effect only until January 1, 2017, and as of that date is repealed, unless a later enacted statute, that is enacted before January 1, 2017, deletes or extends that date.

SEC. 78.

Section 11462.02 is added to the Welfare and Institutions Code, to read:

11462.02.

(a) Any existing county-operated foster family agency or group home, including the group home operated by the County of San Mateo, shall, commencing January 1, 2017, be classified as, and shall meet all of the requirements of, a foster family agency or a short-term residential treatment center, as defined respectively in subdivisions (g) and (ad) of Section 11400, to be eligible to receive AFDC-FC funds.

(b) Notwithstanding any other law, the State Department of Social Services may license a county as a foster family agency or as a short-term residential treatment center.

(c) If a county exercises its
option to operate a foster family agency or a short-term residential treatment center, the county shall submit an application and shall comply with the requirements of Chapter 3 (commencing with Section 1500) of Division 2 of the Health and Safety Code related to foster family agency programs or a short-term residential treatment center, as applicable.

(d) A county that requests, and is granted, a license for a foster family agency or short-term residential treatment center shall apply for an AFDC-FC rate pursuant to Section 11462 or 11463, as applicable.

(e) As a condition for eligibility for an AFDC-FC rate for a short-term residential treatment center or a foster family agency, the county shall comply with all applicable law concerning a short-term residential treatment center
or foster family agency, including, but not limited to, the following provisions related to licensing, rate, audit, due process, enforcement, and overpayment
collection:

(1) Chapter 3 (commencing with Section 1500) of Division 2 of the Health and Safety Code.

(2) Article 10 (commencing with Section 360) of Chapter 2 of Part 1 of Division 2 of this code.

(3) Article 18 (commencing with Section 725) of Chapter 2 of Part 1 of Division 2 of this code.

(4) Article 22 (commencing with Section 825) of Chapter 2 of Part 1 of Division 2 of this code.

(5) Article 5 (commencing with Section 11400) of Chapter 2 of Part 3 of Division 9 of this code.

(6) Article 6 (commencing with Section
11450) of Chapter 2 of Part 3 of Division 9 of this code.

(f) The state is not obligated under Section 36 of Article XIII of the California Constitution to provide any annual funding to a county to comply with this section; with any regulation, executive order, or administrative order implementing this section; or with any federal statute or regulation related to this section, because the county’s operation of a licensed short-term residential treatment center or foster family agency is optional for the county and is not required by this section.

(g) Counties licensed to operate a foster family agency or short-term residential treatment center shall, as a condition to receiving payment, ensure that its conflict-of-interest mitigation plan, submitted to the department pursuant
to subdivision (d) of Section 1506.1 and subdivision (d) of Section 1562.01 of the Health and Safety Code, addresses, but is not limited to, the following:

(1) A decision to place children and youth in a county-operated facility when alternative appropriate placement options exist.

(2) The reporting by county staff to the department or other agencies of observed noncompliant conditions or health and safety concerns in county-operated foster family agencies or short-term residential treatment centers.

(4) Disclosures of fatalities and near fatalities of children placed in county-operated foster family agencies and short-term residential treatment centers.

(h) This section shall become operative on January 1, 2017.

SEC. 79.

Section 11462.021 is added to the Welfare and Institutions Code, to read:

11462.021.

(a) Notwithstanding paragraph (2) of subdivision (a) of Section 11462, a foster care provider licensed as a group home also may have a rate established if the group home is operated by the County of San Mateo, as provided by subdivision (h) of Section 11400.

(b) This section shall only apply to a group home that has been granted an extension pursuant to the exception process described in subdivision (d) of Section 11462.04.

(c) This section shall become operative on January 1, 2017.

(d) This section shall remain in effect only
until January 1, 2019, and as of that date is repealed, unless a later enacted statute, that is enacted before January 1, 2019, deletes or extends that date.

SEC. 80.

Section 11462.022 is added to the Welfare and Institutions Code, to read:

11462.022.

(a) Upon meeting the licensure requirements pursuant to Section 1530.8 of the Health and Safety Code, a county child welfare agency operating a temporary shelter care facility, as defined in Section 1530.8 of the Health and Safety Code, shall comply with this section.

(b) Prior to detaining the child in the temporary shelter care facility, the child welfare agency shall make reasonable efforts, consistent with current law, to place the child with a relative, tribal member, nonrelative extended family member, or in a licensed, certified, approved or tribally approved foster family home or approved resource family. When the child welfare agency has reason to
believe that the child is or may be an Indian child, the agency shall make active efforts to comply with the federal Indian Child Welfare Act placement preferences, as required by subdivision (k) of Section 361.31.

(c) A child may be detained or placed in a temporary shelter care facility only for the duration necessary to enable the county placing agency to perform the required assessments and to appropriately place the child.

(d) Upon admission, the temporary shelter care facility shall provide each child with health, mental health, and developmental screenings, as applicable. Commencing when a child is admitted into a temporary shelter care facility, and continuing until the child’s discharge from the facility, the county welfare agency shall continuously strive to identify
and place the child in an appropriate licensed or approved home or facility.

(e) The temporary shelter care facility shall ensure that the following services, at a minimum, are identified in the facility’s plan of operation and are available to children detained at the facility:

(1) Medical, developmental, behavioral, and mental health assessments based on the information obtained through the screenings required pursuant to subdivision (d).

(2) Based on the screening, assessments, and other information obtained about the child, identification of the appropriate placement resources that meet the child’s needs.

(9) Structured indoor and outdoor activities, including recreational and social programs.

(10) Transportation and other forms of support to ensure, to the extent possible, the child’s ability to attend and participate in important milestone events.

(11) Mentorship and peer support-type programs.

(f) (1) In no case shall the detention or placement in a temporary shelter care facility exceed 10 calendar days. For any stay that exceeds 10 calendar days, the child welfare agency shall submit a written report to the department, within 24 hours of an overstay, that shall include a description of the reasons and circumstances for the child’s overstay, and shall be signed by the county child
welfare agency director or his or her designee. The department may choose not to issue a citation to the county for a violation of the 10-day placement limit when, based on the information contained in the report, the overstay is reasonable and the county is complying with subdivision (d).

(2) The child welfare agency may permit any child or youth to access assessment and other services described in subdivision (d) or (e) while in an out-of-home placement.

(3) To ensure the protection of children placed in temporary shelter care facilities, the child welfare agency shall separate children placed in temporary shelter care facilities pursuant to subdivision (b) from children returning to the shelter due to a failed placement, when possible, when circumstances warrant
that separation. Temporary shelters shall staff as necessary to adequately supervise children to ensure an appropriate environment for all children present.

(g) At the request of the county, the department shall provide technical assistance necessary for the implementation of this section.

(h) The department, in consultation with the counties, shall provide a report to the Legislature no later than January 1, 2021, that shall include the number of children and youth served by temporary shelter care facilities, characteristics of children detained in these facilities, and whether there is a continued need for the licensing and operation of temporary shelter care facilities.

SEC. 81.

Section 11462.04 of the Welfare and Institutions Code is amended to read:

11462.04.

(a) Notwithstanding any other law, no new group home rate or change to an existing rate shall be established pursuant to Section 11462. An application shall not be accepted or processed for any of the following:

(1) A new program.

(2) A new provider.

(3) A program change, such as a rate classification level (RCL) increase.

(4) A program capacity increase.

(5) A program reinstatement.

(b) Notwithstanding subdivision (a), the department may grant exceptions as appropriate on a case-by-case basis, based upon a written request and supporting documentation provided by county placing agencies, including county welfare or probation directors.

(c) (1) For the 2012–13, 2013–14, and 2014–15 fiscal years, notwithstanding subdivision (b), for any program below RCL 10, the only exception that may be sought and granted pursuant to this section is for an application requesting a program change, such as an RCL increase. The authority to grant other exceptions does not apply to programs below RCL 10 during these fiscal years.

(2) Notwithstanding paragraph (1), commencing January 1, 2017, no exception shall be granted for any program below RCL 10.

(d) This section shall remain in effect only until January 1, 2017, and as of that date is repealed, unless a later enacted statute, that is enacted before January 1, 2017, deletes or extends that date.

SEC. 82.

Section 11462.04 is added to the Welfare and Institutions Code, to read:

11462.04.

(a) Notwithstanding any other law, commencing January 1, 2017, no new group home rate or change to an existing rate shall be established pursuant to the Rate Classification Level (RCL) system.

(b) Notwithstanding subdivision (a), the department may grant an exception as appropriate, on a case-by-case basis, when a written request and supporting documentation are provided by a county placing agency, including a county welfare or probation director, that absent the granting of that exception, there is a material risk to the welfare of children due to an inadequate supply of appropriate alternative placement options to meet the needs of children.

(c) For group homes being paid under the RCL system, and those granted an exception pursuant to paragraph (b), group home rates shall terminate on December 31, 2016, unless granted an extension under the exception process in subdivision (d).

(d) A group home may request an exception to extend its rate as follows:

(1) The department may grant an extension for up to two years, through December 31, 2018, except as provided in paragraph (2), on a case-by-case basis, when a written request and supporting documentation are provided by a county placing agency, including a county welfare or probation director, that absent the granting of that exception, there is a material risk to the welfare of children due to an inadequate
supply of appropriate alternative placement options to meet the needs of children. The exception may include time to meet the program accreditation requirement or the mental health certification requirement.

(2) Pursuant to Section 11462.041, the department may grant an extension to a group home beyond December 31, 2018, upon a provider submitting a written request and the county probation department providing documentation stating that absent the grant of that extension, there is a significant risk to the safety of the youth or the public, due to an inadequate supply of short-term residential treatment centers or resource families necessary to meet the needs of probation youth. The extension granted to any provider through this section may be reviewed annually by the department if concerns arise regarding that provider’s
facility. Pursuant to subdivision (e) of Section 11462.041, the final report submitted to the Legislature shall address whether or not the extensions are still necessary.

(3) The exception shall allow the provider to continue to receive the rate under the prior ratesetting system.

(4) A provider granted an extension pursuant to this section shall continue to operate and be governed by the applicable laws and regulations that were operative on December 31, 2018.

(e) Upon termination of an existing group home rate under the RCL system, a new rate shall not be paid until an application is approved and a rate is granted by the department pursuant to Section 11462 as a short-term residential treatment center or pursuant to
Section 11463 as a foster family agency.

(f) The department shall, in the development of the new rate structures, consider and provide for placement of all children who are displaced as a result of reclassification of treatment facilities.

(g) This section shall become operative on January 1, 2017.

SEC. 83.

Section 11462.041 is added to the Welfare and Institutions Code, to read:

11462.041.

(a) The Legislature recognizes that group homes are one of the primary placement options utilized by probation departments to avoid inappropriate housing of youth in a detention hall, more so since the 2007 realignment of most juvenile offenders from state supervision to county supervision. In order to further improve outcomes for these youth, targeted efforts will be required at the state and local levels to create sufficient capacity in home-based family care and in short-term residential treatment centers in order to serve these youth safely in the least restrictive, family-based settings, whenever possible. This increased capacity is needed in both the number of related and unrelated family-based caregivers, in the
caregivers’ ability to meet the needs of probation youth, and in the services and supports available to these caregivers. Additionally, there must be sufficient capacity in short-term residential treatment centers to meet the needs of probation youth and ensure public safety.

(b) To meet the capacity needs described in subdivision (a), commencing on January 1, 2016, county probation departments shall do all of the following:

(1) Work with group home providers to develop short-term residential treatment center programs that meet the treatment needs of probation supervised youth in foster care.

(2) Work with foster family agencies and other community-based organizations to develop strategies to recruit, retain, and
support specialized foster homes for probation youth.

(3) Work with the department on strategies to identify, engage, and support relative caregivers.

(4) Work with the department to define probation youth outcome measures to be collected and analyzed to assess implementation of this act.

(c) To support the activities described in subdivision (b), commencing on January 1, 2016, the department, in consultation with the Chief Probation Officers of California, shall do all of the following:

(1) Work with providers, courts, and county probation departments to develop capacity for home-based family care.

(2) Work with short-term residential treatment centers and foster family agencies to address the treatment needs of specific probation populations, including, but not limited to, sex offenders, youth with gang affiliations, youth who currently are placed out of state, and youth with mental illness.

(4) Identify strategies to address the systemic challenges specific to small and rural counties in meeting the needs of probation foster youth in need of placement or treatment services.

(5) Provide technical assistance to existing group home providers interested in serving probation youth during the transition to the short-term
residential treatment center or foster family agency models outlined in this act.

(6) Provide technical assistance related to implementation of this section to any requesting county probation department.

(d) Beginning January 1, 2018, the department, in consultation with the Chief Probation Officers of California, shall assess the capacity and quality of placement options for probation youth in foster care, including home-based family care and short-term residential treatment centers. This assessment shall include:

(1) The number and type of placement options.

(2) Whether short-term residential treatment centers have developed programming tailored to address the
propensity of probation youth to run away.

(3) The degree to which foster family agencies, community-based service providers, and county probation departments have developed the programs and services necessary to recruit, retain, and support foster families and relative caregivers serving foster youth supervised by probation departments.

(4) Any need for additional training and technical assistance to be provided to short-term residential treatment centers or foster family agency providers.

(e) The department, in consultation with the Chief Probation Officers of California and the counties, shall provide an interim report, pursuant to Section 9795 of the Government Code, to the Legislature no later than January 10,
2019, and a final report, pursuant to Section 9795 of the Government Code, to the Legislature no later than January 10, 2021, which shall include the number of youth served in home-based family care, in short-term residential treatment centers, and in group homes, characteristics of youth in these placement types, and whether there is a continued need for probation placement in group homes. The reports also shall provide recommendations on any further technical assistance and training, if needed, to facilitate county probation departments, county child welfare departments, DSS, and providers in strengthening the continuum of care for justice-involved youth.

SEC. 84.

Section 11463 of the Welfare and Institutions Code is amended to read:

11463.

(a) (1) The department, with the advice, assistance, and cooperation of the counties and foster care providers, shall develop, implement, and maintain a ratesetting system for foster family agencies.

(2) No county shall be reimbursed for any percentage increases in payments, made on behalf of AFDC-FC funded children who are placed with foster family agencies, that exceed the percentage cost-of-living increase provided in any fiscal year beginning on January 1, 1990, as specified in subdivision (c) of Section 11461.

(b) The department shall develop regulations specifying the purposes, types, and
services of foster family agencies, including the use of those agencies for the provision of emergency shelter care. A distinction, for ratesetting purposes, shall be drawn between foster family agencies that provide treatment of children in foster families and those that provide nontreatment services.

(c) The department shall develop and maintain regulations specifying the procedure for the appeal of department decisions about the setting of an agency’s rate.

(d) On and after July 1, 1998, the schedule of rates, and the components used in the rate calculations specified in the department’s regulations, for foster family agencies shall be increased by 6 percent, rounded to the nearest dollar. The resultant amounts shall constitute the new schedule of rates for foster family agencies.

(e) (1) On and after July 1, 1999, the schedule of rates and the components used in the rate calculations specified in the department’s regulations for foster family agencies shall be adjusted by an amount equal to the California Necessities Index computed pursuant to Section 11453, rounded to the nearest dollar, subject to the availability of funds. The resultant amounts shall constitute the new schedule of rates for foster family agencies, subject to further adjustment pursuant to paragraph (2).

(2) In addition to the adjustment specified in paragraph (1), commencing January 1, 2000, the schedule of rates and the components used in the rate calculations specified in the department’s regulations for foster family agencies shall be increased by 2.36 percent,
rounded to the nearest dollar. The resultant amounts shall constitute the new schedule of rates for foster family agencies.

(f) For the 1999–2000 fiscal year, foster family agency rates that are not determined by the schedule of rates set forth in the department’s regulations, shall be increased by the same percentage as provided in subdivision (e).

(g) (1) For the 2000–01 fiscal year and each fiscal year thereafter, the foster family agency rate shall be supplemented by one hundred dollars ($100) for clothing per year per child in care, subject to the availability of funds. The supplemental payment shall be used to supplement, and shall not be used to supplant, any clothing allowance paid in addition to the foster family agency rate.

(2) Notwithstanding paragraph (1), commencing with the 2012–13 fiscal year, and each fiscal year thereafter, no supplemental clothing allowance shall be provided, because the rate issued in accordance with paragraph (1) of subdivision (m) takes the cost of clothing into account.

(h) In addition to the adjustment made pursuant to subdivision (e), the component for social work activities in the rate calculation specified in the department’s regulations for foster family agencies shall be increased by 10 percent, effective January 1, 2001. This additional funding shall be used by foster family agencies solely to supplement staffing, salaries, wages, and benefit levels of staff performing social work activities. The schedule of rates shall be recomputed using the adjusted amount for social
work activities. The resultant amounts shall constitute the new schedule of rates for foster family agencies. The department may require a foster family agency receiving this additional funding to certify that the funding was utilized in accordance with the provisions of this section.

(i) The increased rate provided by subparagraph (C) of paragraph (1) of subdivision (d) of Section 11461 shall not be used to compute the monthly amount that may be paid to licensed foster family agencies for the placement of children in certified foster homes.

(j) The total foster family agency rate by age group in effect as of January 1, 2008, paid to licensed foster family agencies for the placement of children in certified foster family homes, shall be reduced by 10 percent, effective October
1, 2009. The foster family agency shall have flexibility in applying the reduction, however, nothing shall be deducted from the child base rate, as defined in departmental regulations. When the rate is restored to at least the rate in effect on September 1, 2009, the director shall issue the declaration described in Section 1506.3 of the Health and Safety Code.

(k) Effective October 1, 2009, the total foster family agency rate by age group, in effect for those agency rates that are not determined by the schedule of rates set forth in the department’s regulations, shall be reduced by the same percentage and in the same manner as provided for in subdivision (j).

(l) (1) The department shall determine, consistent with the requirements of this section and
other relevant requirements under law, the rate category for each foster family agency on a biennial basis. Submission of the biennial rate application shall be according to a schedule determined by the department.

(2) The department shall adopt regulations to implement this subdivision. The adoption, amendment, repeal, or readoption of a regulation authorized by this subdivision is deemed to be necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health and safety, or general welfare, for purposes of Sections 11346.1 and 11349.6 of the Government Code, and the department is hereby exempted from the requirement to describe specific facts showing the need for immediate action.

(m) (1) On and after July 1, 2012, the basic rate payment that shall be made
to the certified parent pursuant to this section for care and supervision of a child who is living in a certified home of a foster family agency, as defined in Section 11400, shall equal the basic rate for children based in a licensed or approved home, as specified in paragraph (1) of subdivision (g) of Section 11461.

(2) The basic rate payment to the certified parent made pursuant to paragraph (1) shall be adjusted annually on July 1, by the annual percentage change in the California Necessities Index, in accordance with paragraph (2) of subdivision (g) of Section 11461. The adjustment in this paragraph shall be in lieu of any adjustment pursuant to subdivision (e).

(n) Notwithstanding any other law, the changes to the basic rate payment specified in subdivision (m) shall not change
the remaining components of the foster family agency rate. The new foster family agency rate shall be increased only by the amounts specified pursuant to subdivision (m). The resulting amounts shall constitute the new schedule of rates for foster family agencies, which shall be issued by all-county letters or similar instructions from the department.

(o) Beginning in the 2011–12 fiscal year, and for each fiscal year thereafter, funding and expenditures for programs and activities under this section shall be in accordance with the requirements provided in Sections 30025 and 30026.5 of the Government Code.

(p) (1) Notwithstanding the rulemaking provisions of the Administrative Procedure Act (Chapter 3.5 (commencing with Section 11340) of Part 1
of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code), the department may implement, interpret, or make specific the changes to this section made by the act that added this section, and amend and repeal regulations and orders subject to this section and adopted by the department by means of all-county letters or similar instructions from the department until regulations are adopted. The department shall adopt emergency regulations no later than July 1, 2014. The department may readopt any emergency regulation authorized by this section that is the same as, or substantially equivalent to, an emergency regulation previously adopted under this section.

(2) The initial adoption of emergency regulations pursuant to this section and one readoption of emergency regulations shall be deemed an emergency and necessary for the immediate preservation of the
public peace, health, safety, or general welfare. Initial emergency regulations and the one readoption of emergency regulations authorized by this section shall be exempt from review by the Office of Administrative Law. The initial emergency regulations and the one readoption of emergency regulations authorized by this section shall be submitted to the Office of Administrative Law for filing with the Secretary of State and each shall remain in effect for no more than 180 days, by which time final regulations may be adopted.

(q) This section shall remain in effect only until January 1, 2017, and as of that date is repealed, unless a later enacted statute, that is enacted before January 1, 2017, deletes or extends that date.

SEC. 85.

Section 11463 is added to the Welfare and Institutions Code, to read:

11463.

(a) The department shall commence development of a new payment structure for the Title IV-E funded foster family agency placement option that maximizes federal funding, in consultation with county placing agencies.

(b) The department shall develop a payment system for foster family agencies that provide treatment, intensive treatment, and therapeutic foster care programs, and shall consider all of the following factors:

(1) Administrative activities that are eligible for federal financial participation provided, at county request, for and to county-licensed or approved family homes and resource
families, intensive case management and supervision, and services to achieve legal permanency or successful transition to adulthood.

(2) Social work activities that are eligible for federal financial participation under Title IV-E of the Social Security Act.

(3) Social work and mental health services eligible for federal financial participation under Title XIX of the Social Security Act.

(4) Intensive treatment or therapeutic services in the foster family agency.

(5) Core services, made available to children and nonminor dependents either directly or secured through formal agreements with other agencies, which are trauma informed and culturally relevant and
include:

(A) Specialty mental health services for children who meet medical necessity criteria for specialty mental health services under the Medi-Cal Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnosis, and Treatment program, as the criteria are described in Section 1830.210 of Title 9, of the California Code of Regulations.

(B) Transition support services for children, youth, and families upon initial entry and placement changes and for families who assume permanency through reunification, adoption, or guardianship.

(C) Educational and physical, behavioral, and mental health supports, including extracurricular activities and social supports.

(D) Activities designed to support transition-age youth and nonminor dependents in achieving a successful adulthood.

(E) Services to achieve permanency, including supporting efforts to reunify or achieve adoption or guardianship and efforts to maintain or establish relationships with parents, siblings, extended family members, tribes, or others important to the child or youth, as appropriate.

(F) When serving Indian children, as defined in subdivisions (a) and (b) of Section 224.1, the core services specified in subparagraphs (A) to (E), inclusive, shall be provided to eligible children consistent with active efforts pursuant to Section 361.7.

(G) The core services specified in subparagraphs (A) to (F), inclusive, are not intended to duplicate services already available to foster children in the community, but to support access to those services and
supports to the extent already available. Those services and supports may include, but are not limited to, foster youth services available through county offices of education, Indian Health Services, and school-based extracurricular activities.

(6) Staff training.

(7) Health and Safety Code requirements.

(8) A process for accreditation that includes all of the following:

(A) Provision for all licensed foster family agencies to maintain in good standing accreditation from a nationally recognized accreditation agency with expertise in programs for youth group care facilities, as determined by
the department.

(B) Promulgation by the department of information identifying the agency or agencies from which accreditation shall be required.

(C) Provision for timely reporting to the department of any change in accreditation status.

(9) Mental health certification, including a requirement to timely
report to the department any change in mental health certificate status.

(10) Populations served, including, but not limited to, any of the following:

(A) (i) Children and youth assessed as seriously emotionally disturbed, as described in subdivision (a) of Section 5600.3, including those placed out-of-home pursuant to an individualized education program developed under Article 2 (commencing with Section 56320) of Chapter 4 of Part 30 of Division 4 of Title 2 of the Education Code.

(ii) Children assessed as meeting the medical necessity criteria for specialty mental health services under the Medi-Cal Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnosis, and Treatment program, as the criteria
are described in Section 1830.210 of Title 9 of the California Code of Regulations.

(B) AFDC-FC children and youth receiving intensive and therapeutic treatment services in a foster family agency.

(C) AFDC-FC children and youth receiving mental health treatment services from a foster family agency.

(11) Maximization of federal financial participation for Title IV-E and Title XIX of the Social Security Act.

(c) The department shall develop a system of governmental monitoring and oversight that shall be carried out in coordination with the State Department of Health Care Services. Oversight responsibilities shall include, but not be limited to, ensuring conformity
with federal and state law, including program, fiscal, and health and safety reviews. The state agencies shall attempt to minimize duplicative audits and reviews to reduce the administrative burden on providers.

(d) The department shall consider the impact on children and youth being transitioned to alternate programs as a result of the new ratesetting system.

(e) This section shall become operative on January 1, 2017.

SEC. 86.

Section 11463.01 is added to the Welfare and Institutions Code, immediately after Section 11463, to read:

11463.01.

(a) (1) The department, with the advice, assistance, and cooperation of the counties and foster care providers, shall develop, implement, and maintain a ratesetting system for foster family agencies.

(2) No county shall be reimbursed for any percentage increases in payments, made on behalf of AFDC-FC funded children who are placed with foster family agencies, that exceed the percentage cost-of-living increase provided in any fiscal year, as specified in subdivision (c) of Section 11461.

(b) The department shall develop regulations specifying the purposes, types, and services of
foster family agencies, including the use of those agencies for the provision of emergency shelter care.

(c) The department shall develop and maintain regulations specifying the procedures for the appeal of department decisions about the setting of an agency’s rate.

(d) No supplemental clothing allowance shall be provided, because the rate issued in accordance with paragraph (1) of subdivision (g) takes the cost of clothing into account.

(e) The schedule of rates for foster family agencies as set forth in Section 11463, as that section read on January 1, 2015, shall apply for purposes of, and may be modified pursuant to, this section.

(f) (1) The department shall determine, consistent with the requirements of this section and other relevant requirements under law, the rate category for each foster family agency on a biennial basis. Submission of the biennial rate application shall be according to a schedule determined by the department.

(2) The department shall adopt regulations to implement this subdivision. The adoption, amendment, repeal, or readoption of a regulation authorized by this subdivision is deemed to be necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health and safety, or general welfare, for purposes of Sections 11346.1 and 11349.6 of the Government Code, and the department is hereby exempted from the requirement to describe specific facts showing the need for immediate action.

(g) (1) The basic rate payment that shall be made to the certified parent pursuant to this section for care and supervision of a child who is living in a certified home of a foster family agency, as defined in Section 11400, shall equal the basic rate for children placed in a licensed or approved home, as specified in paragraph (1) of subdivision (g) of Section 11461.

(2) The basic rate payment to the certified parent made pursuant to paragraph (1) shall be adjusted annually on July 1, by the annual percentage change in the California Necessities Index, in accordance with paragraph (2) of subdivision (g) of Section 11461. The adjustment in this paragraph shall be in lieu of any adjustment pursuant to subdivision (e) of Section 11463, as that section read on January 1, 2015.

(h) Notwithstanding any other law, the changes to the basic rate payment specified in subdivision (g) shall not change the remaining components of the foster family agency rate. The new foster family agency rate shall be increased only by the amounts specified pursuant to subdivision (g). The resulting amounts shall constitute the new schedule of rates for foster family agencies, which shall be issued by all-county letters or similar instructions from the department.

(i) For each fiscal year, funding and expenditures for programs and activities under this section shall be in accordance with the requirements provided in Sections 30025 and 30026.5 of the Government Code.

(j) (1) Notwithstanding the rulemaking provisions of the Administrative Procedure Act (Chapter 3.5 (commencing with Section 11340) of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code), the department may implement, interpret, or make specific the changes to this section made by the act that added this section, and amend and repeal regulations and orders subject to this section and adopted by the department by means of all-county letters or similar instructions from the department until regulations are adopted. The department shall adopt emergency regulations no later than July 1, 2016. The department may readopt any emergency regulation authorized by this section that is the same as, or substantially equivalent to, an emergency regulation previously adopted under this section.

(2) The initial adoption of emergency regulations pursuant
to this section and one readoption of emergency regulations shall be deemed an emergency and necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, safety, or general welfare. Initial emergency regulations and the one readoption of emergency regulations authorized by this section shall be exempt from review by the Office of Administrative Law. The initial emergency regulations and the one readoption of emergency regulations authorized by this section shall be submitted to the Office of Administrative Law for filing with the Secretary of State and each shall remain in effect for no more than 180 days, by which time final regulations may be adopted.

(k) This section shall only apply to a foster family agency that has been granted an extension pursuant to the exception process described in subdivision (d) of Section
11463.1.

(l) This section shall become operative on January 1, 2017.

(m) This section shall remain in effect only until January 1, 2018, and as of that date is repealed, unless a later enacted statute, that is enacted before January 1, 2018, deletes or extends that date.

SEC. 87.

Section 11463.1 is added to the Welfare and Institutions Code, to read:

11463.1.

(a) Notwithstanding any other law, commencing January 1, 2017, no new foster family agency shall be established pursuant to the rate in effect through December 31, 2016.

(b) Notwithstanding subdivision (a), the department may grant an exception as appropriate, on a case-by-case basis, when a written request and supporting documentation are provided by a county placing agency, including a county welfare or probation director, that absent the granting of that exception, there is a material risk to the welfare of children due to an inadequate supply of appropriate alternative placement options to meet the needs of children or youth.

(c) Rates for foster family agencies paid under the prior rate system, and those granted an exception pursuant to subdivision (b), shall terminate on December 31, 2016, unless granted an extension under the exception process in subdivision (d).

(d) A foster family agency may request an exception to extend its rate as follows:

(1) The department may grant an extension for up to two years, through December 31, 2018, on a case-by-case basis, when a written request and supporting documentation are provided by a county placing agency, including a county welfare or probation director, that absent the granting of that exception, there is a material risk to the welfare of children or youth due to an inadequate supply of
appropriate alternative placement options to meet the needs of children. The exception may include time to meet the accreditation requirement or the mental health certification requirement.

(2) The exception shall allow the provider to continue to receive the rate under the prior ratesetting system.

(e) Upon termination of an existing foster family agency rate under the prior rate system, a new rate shall not be paid until an application is approved and a rate is granted by the department pursuant to Section 11463 as a foster family agency or Section 11462 as a short-term residential treatment center.

(f) The department shall, in the development of the new rate structures, consider and provide for placement of all children
who are displaced as a result of reclassification of treatment facilities.

(g) This section shall remain in effect only until January 1, 2019, and as of that date is repealed, unless a later enacted statute, that is enacted before January 1, 2019, deletes or extends that date.

SEC. 88.

Section 11465 of the Welfare and Institutions Code is amended to read:

11465.

(a) When a child is living with a parent who receives AFDC-FC or Kin-GAP benefits, the rate paid to the provider on behalf of the parent shall include an amount for care and supervision of the child.

(b) For each category of eligible licensed community care facility, as defined in Section 1502 of the Health and Safety Code, the department shall adopt regulations setting forth a uniform rate to cover the cost of care and supervision of the child in each category of eligible licensed community care facility.

(c) (1) On and after July 1, 1998, the uniform rate to cover the cost of care and supervision of a
child pursuant to this section shall be increased by 6 percent, rounded to the nearest dollar. The resultant amounts shall constitute the new uniform rate.

(2) (A) On and after July 1, 1999, the uniform rate to cover the cost of care and supervision of a child pursuant to this section shall be adjusted by an amount equal to the California Necessities Index computed pursuant to Section 11453, rounded to the nearest dollar. The resultant amounts shall constitute the new uniform rate, subject to further adjustment pursuant to subparagraph (B).

(B) In addition to the adjustment specified in subparagraph (A), on and after January 1, 2000, the uniform rate to cover the cost of care and supervision of a child pursuant to this section shall be increased by 2.36 percent,
rounded to the nearest dollar. The resultant amounts shall constitute the new uniform rate.

(3) Subject to the availability of funds, for the 2000–01 fiscal year and annually thereafter, these rates shall be adjusted for cost of living pursuant to procedures in Section 11453.

(4) On and after January 1, 2008, the uniform rate to cover the cost of care and supervision of a child pursuant to this section shall be increased by 5 percent, rounded to the nearest dollar. The resulting amount shall constitute the new uniform rate.

(d) (1) Notwithstanding subdivisions (a) to (c), inclusive, the payment made pursuant to this section for care and supervision of a child who is living with a teen parent in a whole family
foster home, as defined in Section 11400, shall equal the basic rate for children placed in a licensed or approved home as specified in subdivisions (a) to (d), inclusive, and subdivision (g), of Section 11461.

(2) (A) The amount paid for care and supervision of a dependent infant living with a dependent teen parent receiving AFDC-FC benefits in a group home placement shall equal the infant supplement rate for group home placements.

(B) Commencing January 1, 2017, the amount paid for care and supervision of a dependent infant living with a dependent teenage parent receiving AFDC-FC benefits in a short-term residential treatment center shall equal the infant supplement rate for short-term residential treatment centers established by the department.

(3) (A) The caregiver shall provide the county child welfare agency or probation department with a copy of the shared responsibility plan developed pursuant to Section 16501.25 and shall advise the county child welfare agency or probation department of any subsequent changes to the plan. Once the plan has been completed and provided to the appropriate agencies, the payment made pursuant to this section shall be increased by an additional two hundred dollars ($200) per month to reflect the increased care and supervision while he or she is placed in the whole family foster home.

(B) A nonminor dependent parent residing in a supervised independent living placement, as defined in subdivision (w) of Section 11400, who develops a written parenting support plan
pursuant to Section 16501.26 shall provide the county child welfare agency or probation department with a copy of the plan and shall advise the county child welfare agency or probation department of any subsequent changes to the plan. The payment made pursuant to this section shall be increased by an additional two hundred dollars ($200) per month after all of the following have been satisfied:

(i) The plan has been completed and provided to the appropriate county agency.

(ii) The plan has been approved by the appropriate county agency.

(iii) The county agency has determined that the identified responsible adult meets the criteria specified in Section 16501.27.

(4) In a year in which the payment provided pursuant to this section is adjusted for the cost of living as provided in paragraph (1) of subdivision (c), the payments provided for in this subdivision shall also be increased by the same procedures.

(5) A Kin-GAP relative who, immediately prior to entering the Kin-GAP program, was designated as a whole family foster home shall receive the same payment amounts for the care and supervision of a child who is living with a teen parent they received in foster care as a whole family foster home.

(6) On and after January 1, 2012, the rate paid for a child living with a teen parent in a whole family foster home as defined in Section 11400 shall also be paid for a child living with a nonminor dependent parent who is eligible to
receive AFDC-FC or Kin-GAP pursuant to Section 11403.

SEC. 89.

Section 11466 is added to the Welfare and Institutions Code, to read:

11466.

For the purposes of this section to Section 114691.1, inclusive, “provider” shall mean a group home, short-term residential treatment center, a foster family agency that provides treatment services, and similar foster care business entities.

SEC. 90.

Section 11466.2 of the Welfare and Institutions Code is amended to read:

11466.2.

(a) (1) The department shall perform or have performed group home program and fiscal audits as needed. Group home programs shall maintain all child-specific, programmatic, personnel, fiscal, and other information affecting group home ratesetting and AFDC-FC payments for a period not less than five years.

(2) Notwithstanding paragraph (1), the department shall not establish an overpayment based upon a nonprovisional program audit conducted on less than a one-year audit period.

(3) Notwithstanding paragraph (2), the department may conduct audits covering a period of less than 12 months. Based upon the findings
of these audits, the department may reduce a group home program’s AFDC-FC rate or RCL pursuant to this paragraph.

(A) In an audit of a period of less than 12 months, if a provider’s audited RCL is no more than three levels below the paid RCL, the provider’s rate and RCL will be reduced to the audited RCL. The provider will be allowed the opportunity to bring a program into compliance with the paid RCL.

(B) In an audit of a period of less than 12 months, if the provider’s audited RCL is more than three levels below the paid RCL, the department shall conduct an audit as identified in paragraph (2) of subdivision (a) of Section 11466.2. The provider will be allowed the opportunity to bring a program into compliance with the paid RCL.

(C) For audit purposes, when the group home program serves a mixture of AFDC-FC eligible and ineligible children, the weighted hours for child care and social work services provided and the capacity of the group home shall be adjusted by the ratio of AFDC-FC eligible children to all children in placement.

(D) A group home provider may request a hearing of the department’s RCL determination under subparagraph (A) no later than 30 days after the date the department issues its RCL determination. The department’s RCL determination shall be final if the group home provider does not request a hearing within the prescribed time. Within 60 days of receipt of the request for hearing, the department shall conduct a hearing on the RCL determination. The standard of proof shall be the preponderance of the evidence and the burden of proof shall be
on the department. The hearing officer shall issue the proposed decision within 45 days of the close of the evidentiary record. The director shall adopt, reject, or modify the proposed decision, or refer the matter back to the hearing officer for additional evidence or findings within 100 days of issuance of the proposed decision. If the director takes no action on the proposed decision within the prescribed time, the proposed decision shall take effect by operation of law.

(b) (1) The department shall develop regulations to correct a group home program’s RCL, and to adjust the rate and to recover any overpayments resulting from an overstatement of the projected level of care and services.

(2) The department shall modify the amount of the overpayment pursuant
to paragraph (1) in cases where the level of care and services provided per child in placement equals or exceeds the level associated with the program’s RCL. In making this modification, the department shall determine whether services other than child care supervision were provided to children in placement in an amount that is at least proportionate, on a per child basis, to the amount projected in the group home’s rate application. In cases where these services are provided in less than a proportionate amount, staffing for child care supervision in excess of its proportionate share shall not be substituted for nonchild care supervision staff hours.

(c) (1) In any audit conducted by the department, the department, or other public or private audit agency with which the department contracts, shall coordinate with the
department’s licensing and ratesetting entities so that a consistent set of standards, rules, and auditing protocols are maintained. The department, or other public or private audit agency with which the department contracts, shall make available to all group home providers, in writing, any standards, rules, and auditing protocols to be used in those audits.

(2) The department shall provide exit interviews with providers whenever deficiencies found are explained and the opportunity exists for providers to respond. The department shall adopt regulations specifying the procedure for the appeal of audit findings.

(d) This section shall remain in effect only until January 1, 2017, and as of that date is repealed, unless a later enacted statute, that is enacted
before January 1, 2017, deletes or extends that date.

SEC. 91.

Section 11466.2 is added to the Welfare and Institutions Code, to read:

11466.2.

(a) (1) The department shall perform or have performed provider program and fiscal audits as needed. Provider programs shall maintain all child-specific, programmatic, personnel, fiscal, and other information affecting ratesetting and AFDC-FC payments for a period of not less than five years.

(2) A provider may request a hearing of the department’s audit determination under this section no later than 30 days after the date the department issues its audit determination. The department’s audit determination shall be final if the provider does not request a hearing within the prescribed time. Within 60 days of receipt of the request for hearing, the
department shall conduct a hearing on the audit determination. The standard of proof shall be the preponderance of the evidence and the burden of proof shall be on the department. The hearing officer shall issue the proposed decision within 45 days of the close of the evidentiary record. The director shall adopt, reject, or modify the proposed decision, or refer the matter back to the hearing officer for additional evidence or findings within 100 days of issuance of the proposed decision. If the director takes no action on the proposed decision within the prescribed time, the proposed decision shall take effect by operation of law.

(b) The department shall develop regulations to correct a program’s audit findings, adjust the rate, and recover any overpayments resulting from an overstatement of the projected level of care and
services and other audit findings.

(c) (1) In any audit conducted by the department, the department, or other public or private audit agency with which the department contracts, shall coordinate with the department’s licensing and ratesetting entities so that a consistent set of standards, rules, and auditing protocols are maintained. The department, or other public or private audit agency with which the department contracts, shall make available to all providers, in writing, any standards, rules, and auditing protocols to be used in those audits.

(2) The department shall provide exit interviews with providers, whenever deficiencies are found, in which those deficiencies may be explained and permit providers an opportunity to respond. The department shall adopt
regulations specifying the procedure for the appeal of audit findings.

(d) This section shall become operative on January 1, 2017.

SEC. 92.

Section 11466.21 of the Welfare and Institutions Code is amended to read:

11466.21.

(a) In accordance with subdivision (b), as a condition to receive an AFDC-FC rate for a program including, but not limited to, a group home, a foster family agency that provides treatment services, a short-term residential treatment center, and other similar business entities providing foster care, the following shall apply:

(1) Any provider who expends in combined federal funds an amount at or above the federal funding threshold in accordance with the federal Single Audit Act, as amended, and Section 200.501 of Title 2 of the Code of Federal Regulations shall arrange to have a financial audit conducted on an annual basis, and shall submit the annual financial audit to the
department in accordance with regulations adopted by the department, all-county letter, or similar written instructions.

(2) Any provider who expends in combined federal funds an amount below the federal funding threshold in accordance with the federal Single Audit Act, as amended, and Section 200.501 of Title 2 of the Code of Federal Regulations shall annually submit to the department a financial audit on its most recent fiscal
period. The department shall provide timely notice to the providers of the date that submission of the financial audit is required. That date of submission of the financial audit shall be established in accordance with regulations adopted by the department.

(3) The scope of the financial audit shall include all of the programs and activities operated by the provider and shall not be limited to those funded in whole or in part by the AFDC-FC program. The financial audits shall include, but not be limited to, an evaluation of the expenditures and accounting and control systems of the provider.

(4) The provider shall have its financial audit conducted by certified public accountants or by state-licensed public
accountants, with audit designation, who have no direct or indirect relationship with the functions or activities being audited, or with the provider, its board of directors, or other governing body, officers, or staff.

(5) The provider shall have its financial audits conducted in accordance with Government Auditing Standards issued by the Comptroller General of the United States and in compliance with generally accepted accounting principles applicable to private entities organized and operated on a nonprofit basis.

(6) (A) Each provider shall have the flexibility to define the calendar months included in its fiscal year.

(B) A provider may change the definition of its fiscal year. However,
the financial audit conducted following the change shall cover all of the months since the last audit, even though this may cover a period that exceeds 12 months.

(b) (1) In accordance with subdivision (a), as a condition to receive an AFDC-FC rate, a provider shall submit a copy of its most recent financial audit report, except as provided in paragraph (3).

(2) The department shall terminate the rate of a provider who fails to submit a copy of its most recent financial audit pursuant to subdivision (a). A terminated rate shall only be reinstated upon the provider’s submission to the department of an acceptable financial audit.

(3) A new provider that has been incorporated for fewer than 12
calendar months shall not be required to submit a copy of a financial audit to receive an AFDC-FC rate for a new program. The financial audit shall be conducted on the provider’s next full fiscal year of operation. The provider shall submit the financial audit to the department in accordance with subdivision (a).

(4) Repeated late financial audits may result in monetary penalties or termination of the provider’s rate as set forth in regulation, all-county letter, or similar written directive by the department.

(c) The department shall
issue a management decision letter on audit findings within six months of receipt of the financial audit report. The management decision letter shall clearly state whether or not the audit finding is sustained, the reasons for the decision, and the action or actions expected of the nonprofit organization provider to repay disallowed costs, make financial adjustments, or take other action.

SEC. 93.

Section 11466.22 of the Welfare and Institutions Code is amended to read:

11466.22.

(a) It is the intent of the Legislature to ensure overall program integrity in the AFDC-FC program through the establishment of an effective and efficient process for the collection of provider sustained overpayments. Furthermore, the intent of the Legislature is to ensure that children placed in AFDC-FC programs, including, but not limited to, group homes, short-term residential treatment centers, and foster family agencies, receive the level of care and supervision commensurate with the program’s paid rate.

(b) For the purposes of this section, a provider is a licensee of an AFDC-FC program listed in Section 11402, including, but not limited
to, a group home, short-term residential treatment center, foster family agency that provides treatment services, or a similar business entity, receiving foster care maintenance payments under the AFDC-FC program. The department may collect a sustained overpayment from the party responsible for the sustained overpayment, regardless of whether the party remains in the business of providing any AFDC-FC programs, and regardless of whether the provider remains licensed by the department.

(c) For the purposes of this section, a provider overpayment is an overpayment that results in an audit period when a provider receives a rate reimbursement to which it is not entitled. If a provider receives a rate reimbursement to which it is not entitled, including, but not limited to, the provider failing to maintain a license, or failing to maintain its
status as a nonprofit organization, or due to an overpayment determined as described in paragraph (1) of subdivision (d). If a provider receives a rate to which it is not entitled it shall be liable to repay the overpayment.

(d) (1) Overpayments shall be determined by either a provider audit pursuant to Section 11466.21, a department audit conducted pursuant to Section 11466.2, a management decision letter, or a provider self-reporting an overpayment. A self-reported overpayment may include a finding in the financial audit report submitted by the provider whether that finding is formally made in the financial audit report or discovered through department review of the report or other provider submission.

(2) If a hearing is not requested, or on the 60th day after
an informal decision if a provider or the department does not file a notice of intent to file a formal appeal, or on the 30th day following a formal appeal hearing decision, whichever is latest, a
provider overpayment shall be sustained for collection purposes and the department shall issue a demand letter for repayment of the sustained overpayment.

(3) The department shall establish a voluntary repayment agreement procedure with a maximum repayment period of nine years. The procedure shall take into account the amount of the overpayment, projected annual income of the program that caused the overpayment, a minimum repayment amount, including principal and interest, of 3 percent of annual income prorated on a monthly basis, simple interest for the first seven years of the voluntary repayment agreement on the overpayment amount based on the Surplus Money Investment Fund, and simple interest for the eighth and ninth years of the voluntary repayment agreement based on the prime rate at that time plus 3 percent. The
department may
consider, at the discretion of the director, renegotiation of a voluntary repayment agreement if the director determines that the agreement would cause severe harm to children in placement.

(4) The department shall establish an involuntary overpayment collection procedure, that shall take into account the amount of the overpayment, projected annual income, a minimum required repayment amount, including principal and interest, of 5 percent of the annual income prorated on a monthly basis, simple interest on the overpayment amount based on the Surplus Money Investment Fund, and a maximum repayment period of seven years. The department may
consider, at the discretion of the director, renegotiation of an involuntary payment agreement if the director determines that the agreement would cause severe harm to children in placement.

(e) The department shall maintain, by regulation , all-county letter, or similar written directive, a procedure for recovery of any provider sustained overpayments. The department shall prioritize collection methods, which shall include voluntary repayment agreement procedures, involuntary overpayment collection procedures, including the use of a statutory lien, rate request denials, rate decreases, and rate terminations. The department may also deny rate requests, including requests for rate increases, or program changes or expansions, while an overpayment is due.

(f) Whenever the department determines that a provider sustained overpayment has occurred, the department shall recover from the provider the full amount of the sustained overpayment, and simple interest on the sustained overpayment amount, pursuant to methods described in subdivision (e), against the provider’s income or assets.

(g) If a provider is successful in its appeal of a collected overpayment, it shall be repaid the collected overpayment plus simple interest based on the Surplus Money Investment Fund.

SEC. 94.

Section 11466.25 of the Welfare and Institutions Code is amended to read:

11466.25.

Interest begins to accrue on a provider overpayment or penalty on the date of the issuance of the penalty or the final audit report, or the date the final audit report is sustained, the date of the issuance of a management decision letter in accordance with Section 11466.21, or the date that a provider self-reports an overpayment.

SEC. 95.

Section 11466.3 of the Welfare and Institutions Code is amended to read:

11466.3.

(a) The department shall offer a voluntary repayment agreement procedure to providers that owe a sustained overpayment. A provider may enter into a voluntary repayment agreement with the department to repay a sustained overpayment. The voluntary repayment agreement shall, at a minimum, meet the requirements developed pursuant to paragraph (3) of subdivision (d) of Section 11466.22.

(b) The department shall charge simple interest on the voluntary repayment agreement in accordance with paragraph (3) of subdivision (d) of Section 11466.22.

SEC. 96.

Section 11466.31 of the Welfare and Institutions Code is amended to read:

11466.31.

(a) When it has been determined that a provider participating in the AFDC-FC program owes an overpayment that is due and payable, the department may implement involuntary offset collection procedures to collect sustained overpayments from a provider if the provider does not enter into a voluntary repayment agreement with the department or the provider has three outstanding payments on a voluntary repayment agreement before the overpayment is repaid.

(b) The minimum monthly overpayment offset amount from monthly rate reimbursements shall be determined using the involuntary collection procedures developed pursuant to paragraph (4) of
subdivision (d) of Section 11466.2. Overpayments shall be offset against current monthly rate reimbursement payments due and payable to a provider under this chapter.

(c) Failure to repay an overpayment shall be grounds for termination of the provider’s rate and shall result in a referral to the department’s Community Care Licensing Division for license revocation.

SEC. 97.

Section 11466.32 of the Welfare and Institutions Code is amended to read:

11466.32.

(a) If a provider that owes a sustained overpayment pursuant to paragraph (2) of subdivision (d) of Section 11466.2 does not enter into a voluntary repayment agreement with the department, or the provider has three outstanding payments on a voluntary repayment agreement before the overpayment is repaid, in addition to the monthly overpayment offset amount, 50 percent of any increases resulting from California Necessities Index (CNI) adjustments and provider’s rate adjustments to the standard rate that are due to a provider shall be withheld until the sustained overpayment amount is collected. Once the overpayment amount is collected, the provider shall begin to prospectively receive the full amount of
any California Necessities Index and rate adjustment to which it is entitled.

(b) Any provider subject to involuntary repayment of a sustained overpayment pursuant to Section 11466.31 shall be ineligible to receive any rate increase or program change or expansion, until the repayment is completed or until the host county or the primary placement county provide the department with a request for waiver of this paragraph.

SEC. 98.

Section 11466.33 of the Welfare and Institutions Code is amended to read:

11466.33.

(a) If any amount is due and payable to the department as a result of a sustained overpayment to a provider for care and services in the AFDC-FC program, the department may file, in the office of any county clerk of any county in which the provider has real or personal property, a certificate if any of the following conditions are met:

(1) No formal hearing is requested, the provider has not submitted a voluntary repayment agreement with the first payment, and 60 days have elapsed from the notice of audit results.

(2) The provider has not submitted a voluntary repayment agreement
along with the first payment, 30 days have elapsed after an adverse appeal decision by a hearing officer sustaining an overpayment, and that decision has been adopted by the department or is effective by operation of law.

(1) The amount due, owing, and unpaid, plus simple interest on the amount owing and unpaid beginning on the date the certificate is filed.

(2) A statement that the department has complied with this section prior to the filing of the certificate.

(3) A request that a lien be recorded against the provider in the amount set forth in the certificate.

(c) The county clerk immediately upon the filing of the certificate shall record the lien for the State of California against the provider in the amount set forth in the certificate. The lien may be filed in the chain of title of the property.

(d) The department shall pay the cost of the first lien, and providers shall be responsible for any subsequent liens on a sustained overpayment.

(e) For the first certificate filed by the department pursuant to this section, the county shall waive all filing fees.

SEC. 99.

Section 11466.34 of the Welfare and Institutions Code is amended to read:

11466.34.

(a) (1) At any time within 10 years of the recording of a lien pursuant to Section 11466.33, the department may bring an action, in a superior court in the county in which the lien is filed, seeking a judgment to establish the lien as a judgment lien.

(2) If a judgment is obtained pursuant to paragraph (1), the county recorder shall record the lien as a judgment lien.

(b) An abstract of a judgment obtained pursuant to subdivision (a) or a copy thereof may be recorded with the county recorder of any county. From the time of recording, the judgment shall constitute a
lien upon all real or personal property of the provider in that county owned by the provider at the time, or that the provider may afterwards, but before the lien expires, acquire. The judgment lien shall continue for 10 years from the time of recording of the abstract of judgment obtained pursuant to subdivision (a), unless sooner released or otherwise discharged.

(c) The judgment lien may, within 10 years from the date of recording of the abstract of judgment or within 10 years from the date of the last extension of the lien in the manner provided in this section, be extended by recording a new abstract in the office of the county recorder of any county. From the date of that recording, the lien shall be extended for 10 years, unless sooner released or otherwise discharged.

(d) The department may release any lien imposed pursuant to this chapter, at the provider’s cost, in which case any judgment pertaining to that lien is for all purposes null and void, if all of the following conditions are met:

(1) No temporary suspension order or license revocation actions by the department’s community care licensing division is pending against a provider.

(2) A provider has made at least three timely payments on a voluntary repayment agreement.

(3) The provider submits to the department corroborative evidence that it is unable to obtain a loan from an institutional lender unless the lien is released.

(e) Execution shall issue upon a
judgment obtained pursuant to this section upon request of the department in the same manner as execution may issue upon other judgments. Sale shall be held under that execution as prescribed in the Code of Civil Procedure. In all proceedings under this section, the director or his or her authorized agents may act on behalf of the state.

SEC. 100.

Section 11466.35 of the Welfare and Institutions Code is amended to read:

11466.35.

(a) Any licensee or member of a governing board of a nonprofit who has been determined to owe a sustained overpayment under this chapter, and who, subsequent to notice of the sustained overpayment, has its rate terminated, shall be ineligible to apply or receive a rate for any future program until the overpayment is repaid.

(b) A rate application shall be denied for a provider that meets either of the following conditions:

(1) A provider owing a sustained overpayment under this chapter, upon the occurrence of any additional sustained overpayment, shall be ineligible to apply or
receive a rate for an existing or future program until the sustained overpayments are repaid, unless a voluntary repayment agreement is approved by the department.

(2) A provider incurring a sustained overpayment that constitutes more than 60 percent of the provider’s annual rate reimbursement shall be ineligible to apply or receive a rate for any existing or future programs until the sustained overpayments are repaid, unless a voluntary repayment agreement is approved by the department.

SEC. 101.

Section 11466.36 of the Welfare and Institutions Code is amended to read:

11466.36.

(a) The department may terminate a program rate if any of the following conditions are met:

(1) The department determines that, based upon the findings of a hearing officer, a rate application or information submitted by a provider was fraudulently submitted to the department.

(2) A provider is failing to provide services in accordance with the standards associated with its paid rate or in accordance with its program statement.

(3) A provider with an outstanding sustained overpayment incurs a second sustained overpayment, and is
unable to repay the sustained overpayments.

(4) A provider has a sustained overpayment that represents 100 percent of a provider’s annual rate reimbursement.

(5) A provider has a sustained overpayment and has failed to
timely submit its payments on more than three occasions in a 12-month period.

(b) This chapter shall not be construed to affect the department’s authority under other provisions of law for collection of provider sustained overpayments.

SEC. 102.

Section 11466.5 of the Welfare and Institutions Code is amended to read:

11466.5.

The department shall collect cost data and monitor the cost of providing care and supervision, and social work services, to AFDC-FC recipients. These data shall include, but not be limited to, the costs incurred for employee wages and benefits.

SEC. 103.

Section 11466.6 of the Welfare and Institutions Code is amended to read:

11466.6.

A provider who disagrees with the rate determined by the department, the rate adjusted by an audit, or a determination made in a management decision letter may request in writing an appeal by the director or the director’s designee. The department shall
maintain, by regulation, all-county letter, or similar written directive, procedures for the departmental appeal process.

SEC. 104.

Section 11468 of the Welfare and Institutions Code is amended to read:

11468.

The department shall establish and maintain administrative procedures to review the rate set by the department for AFDC-FC programs, including, but not limited to, group homes, short-term residential treatment centers, and foster family agencies that provide treatment services.

SEC. 105.

Section 16000 of the Welfare and Institutions Code is amended to read:

16000.

(a) It is the intent of the Legislature to preserve and strengthen a child’s family ties whenever possible, removing the child from the custody of his or her parents only when necessary for his or her welfare or for the safety and protection of the public. If a child is removed from the physical custody of his or her parents, preferential consideration shall be given whenever possible to the placement of the child with the relative as required by Section 7950 of the Family Code. If the child is removed from his or her own family, it is the purpose of this chapter to secure as nearly as possible for the child the custody, care, and discipline equivalent to that which should have been given to the child by his
or her parents. It is further the intent of the Legislature to reaffirm its commitment to children who are in out-of-home placement to live in the least restrictive family setting promoting normal childhood experiences that is suited to meet the child’s or youth’s individual needs, and to live as close to the child’s family as possible pursuant to subdivision (c) of Section 16501.1. Family reunification services shall be provided for expeditious reunification of the child with his or her family, as required by law. If reunification is not possible or likely, a permanent alternative shall be developed.

(b) It is further the intent of the Legislature that all children live with a committed, permanent, and nurturing family. Services and supports should be tailored to meet the needs of the individual child and family being served, with
the ultimate goal of maintaining the family, or when this is not possible, transitioning the child or youth to a permanent family or preparing the child or youth for a successful transition into adulthood. When needed, short-term residential treatment center program services are a short-term, specialized, and intensive intervention that is just one part of a continuum of care available for children, youth, young adults, and their families.

(c) It is further the intent of the Legislature to ensure that all pupils in foster care and those who are homeless as defined by the federal McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. Sec. 11301 et seq.) have the opportunity to meet the challenging state pupil academic achievement standards to which all pupils are held. In fulfilling their responsibilities to pupils in foster care, educators, county
placing agencies, care providers, advocates, and the juvenile courts shall work together to maintain stable school placements and to ensure that each pupil is placed in the least restrictive educational programs, and has access to the academic resources, services, and extracurricular and enrichment activities that are available to all pupils. In all instances, educational and school placement decisions shall be based on the best interests of the child.

SEC. 106.

Section 16003 of the Welfare and Institutions Code is amended to read:

16003.

(a) In order to promote the successful implementation of the statutory preference for foster care placement with a relative caregiver as set forth in Section 7950 of the Family Code, each community college district with a foster care education program shall make available orientation and training to the relative or nonrelative extended family member caregiver into whose care the county has placed a foster child pursuant to Section 1529.2 of the Health and Safety Code, including, but not limited to, courses that cover the following:

(1) The role, rights, and responsibilities of a relative or nonrelative extended family member caregiver caring for a child in foster care, including
the right of a foster child to have fair and equal access to all available services, placement, care, treatment, and benefits, and to not be subjected to discrimination or harassment on the basis of actual or perceived race, ethnic group identification, ancestry, national origin, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, mental or physical disability, or HIV status.

(2) An overview of the child protective system.

(3) The effects of child abuse and neglect on child development.

(4) Positive discipline and the importance of self-esteem.

(5) Health issues in foster care.

(6) Accessing
education and health services that are available to foster children.

(7) Relationship and safety issues regarding contact with one or both of the birth parents.

(8) Permanency options for relative or nonrelative extended family member caregivers, including legal guardianship, the Kinship Guardianship Assistance Payment Program, and kin adoption.

(9) Information on resources available for those who meet eligibility criteria, including out-of-home care payments, the Medi-Cal program, in-home supportive services, and other similar resources.

(11) Basic instruction on the existing laws and procedures regarding the safety of foster youth at school and the ensuring of a harassment and violence free school environment contained in Article 3.6 (commencing with Section 32228) of Chapter 2 of Part 19 of Division 1 of Title 1 of the Education Code.

(b) In addition to training made available pursuant to subdivision (a), each community college district with a foster care education program shall make training available to a relative or nonrelative extended family member caregiver that includes, but need not be limited to, courses that cover all of the following:

(5) Accessing education and health services available to foster children.

(6) Relationship and safety issues regarding contact with one or both of the birth parents.

(7) Permanency options for relative or nonrelative extended family member caregivers, including legal guardianship, the Kinship Guardianship Assistance Payment
Program, and kin adoption.

(8) Basic instruction on the existing laws and procedures regarding the safety of foster youth at school and the ensuring of a harassment and violence free school environment contained in Article 3.6 (commencing with Section 32228) of Chapter 2 of Part 19 of Division 1 of Title 1 of the Education Code.

(c) In addition to the requirements of subdivisions (a) and (b), each community college district with a foster care education program, in providing the orientation program, shall develop appropriate program parameters in collaboration with the counties.

(d) Each community college district with a foster care education program shall make every attempt to make the training and orientation programs
for relative or nonrelative extended family member caregivers highly accessible in the communities in which they reside.

(e) When a child is placed with a relative or nonrelative extended family member caregiver, the county shall inform the caregiver of the availability of training and orientation programs and it is the intent of the Legislature that the county shall forward the names and addresses of relative or nonrelative extended family member caregivers to the appropriate community colleges providing the training and orientation programs.

(f) This section shall not be construed to preclude counties from developing or expanding existing training and orientation programs for foster care providers to include relative or nonrelative extended family member caregivers.

(g) This section shall remain in effect only until January 1, 2017, and as of that date is repealed, unless a later enacted statute, that is enacted before January 1, 2017, deletes or extends that date.

SEC. 106.1.

Section 16003 of the Welfare and Institutions Code is amended to read:

16003.

(a) In order to promote the successful implementation of the statutory preference for foster care placement with a relative caregiver as set forth in Section 7950 of the Family Code, each community college district with a foster care education program shall make available orientation and training to the relative or nonrelative extended family member caregiver into whose care the county has placed a foster child pursuant to Section 1529.2 of the Health and Safety Code, including, but not limited to, courses that cover the following:

(1) The role, rights, and
responsibilities of a relative or nonrelative extended family member caregiver caring for a child in foster care, including the right of a foster child to have fair and equal access to all available services, placement, care, treatment, and benefits, and to not be subjected to discrimination or harassment on the basis of actual or perceived race, ethnic group identification, ancestry, national origin, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, mental or physical disability, or HIV status.

(2) An overview of the child protective system.

(3) The effects of child abuse and neglect on child development.

(4) Positive discipline and the importance of self-esteem.

(5) Health issues in foster
care, including, but not limited to, the information described in subdivision (d) of Section 16501.4.

(6) Accessing education and health services that are available to foster children.

(7) Relationship and safety issues regarding contact with one or both of the birth parents.

(8) Permanency options for relative or nonrelative extended family member caregivers, including legal guardianship, the Kinship Guardianship Assistance Payment Program, and kin adoption.

(9) Information on resources available for those who meet eligibility criteria, including out-of-home care payments, the Medi-Cal program, in-home supportive services, and other similar resources.

(11) Basic instruction on the existing laws and procedures regarding the safety of foster youth at school and the ensuring of a harassment and violence free school environment contained in the Article 3.6 (commencing with Section 32228) of Chapter 2 of Part 19 of Division 1 of Title 1 of the Education Code.

(b) In addition to training made available pursuant to subdivision (a), each community college district with a foster care education program shall make training available to a relative or nonrelative extended family member caregiver that includes, but need not be limited to, courses that cover all of the following:

(2) Health issues in foster
care, including, but not limited to, the information described in subdivision (d) of Section 16501.4.

(3) Positive discipline and the importance of self-esteem.

(4) Emancipation and independent living.

(5) Accessing education and health services available to foster children.

(6) Relationship and safety issues regarding contact with one or both of the birth parents.

(7) Permanency options for relative or nonrelative extended family member caregivers, including legal guardianship, the Kinship Guardianship Assistance Payment Program, and kin adoption.

(8) Basic instruction on the
existing laws and procedures regarding the safety of foster youth at school and the ensuring of a harassment and violence free school environment contained in the Article 3.6 (commencing with Section 32228) of Chapter 2 of Part 19 of Division 1 of Title 1 of the Education Code.

(c) In addition to the requirements of subdivisions (a) and (b), each community college district with a foster care education program, in providing the orientation program, shall develop appropriate program parameters
in collaboration with the counties.

(d) Each community college district with a foster care education program shall make every attempt to make the training and orientation programs for relative or nonrelative extended family member caregivers highly accessible in the communities in which they reside.

(e) When a child is placed with a relative or nonrelative extended family member caregiver, the county shall inform the caregiver of the availability of training and orientation programs and it is the intent of the Legislature that the county shall forward the names and addresses of relative or nonrelative extended family member caregivers to the appropriate community colleges providing the training and orientation programs.

(f) This section shall not be construed to preclude counties from developing or expanding existing
training and orientation programs for foster care providers to include relative or nonrelative extended family member caregivers.

(g) This section shall remain in effect only until January 1, 2017, and as of that date is repealed, unless a later enacted statute, that is enacted before January 1, 2017, deletes or extends that date.

SEC. 106.2.

Section 16003 of the Welfare and Institutions Code is amended to read:

16003.

(a) In order to promote the successful implementation of the statutory preference for foster care placement with a relative caregiver as set forth in Section 7950 of the Family Code, each community college district with a foster care education program shall make available orientation and training, pursuant to Sections 1522.44 and 1529.2 of the Health and Safety Code, to the relative or nonrelative extended family member
caregiver into whose care the county has placed a foster child. The training shall include, but is not limited to, courses that cover the following:

(1) The role, rights, and responsibilities of a relative or nonrelative extended family member caregiver caring for a child in foster care, including the right of a foster child to have fair and equal access to all available services, placement, care, treatment, and benefits, and to not be subjected to discrimination or harassment on the basis of actual or perceived race, ethnic group identification, ancestry, national origin, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, mental or physical disability, or HIV
status.

(2) An overview of the child protective system.

(3) The effects of child abuse and neglect on child development.

(4) Positive discipline and the importance of self-esteem.

(5) Health issues in foster care.

(6) Accessing education and health services that are available to foster children.

(7) Relationship and safety issues regarding contact with one or both of the birth parents.

(8) Permanency options for relative or nonrelative extended family member caregivers, including legal guardianship, the Kinship Guardianship Assistance Payment Program, and kin
adoption.

(9) Information on resources available for those who meet eligibility criteria, including out-of-home care payments, the Medi-Cal program, in-home supportive services, and other similar resources.

(11) Basic instruction on the existing laws and procedures regarding the safety of foster youth at school and the ensuring of a harassment and violence free school environment contained in
Article 3.6 (commencing with Section 32228) of Chapter 2 of Part 19 of Division 1 of Title 1 of the Education Code.

(12) Knowledge of, and skills related to, the application of the reasonable and prudent parent standard for the participation of the child in age or developmentally appropriate activities, as set forth in Section 1522.44 of the Health and Safety Code.

(b) In addition to training made available pursuant to subdivision (a), each community college district with a foster care education program shall make training available to a
relative or nonrelative extended family member caregiver that includes, but need not be limited to, courses that cover all of the following:

(5) Accessing education and health services available to foster children.

(6) Relationship and safety issues regarding contact with one or both of the birth parents.

(7) Permanency options for relative or nonrelative extended family member caregivers, including legal guardianship, the Kinship Guardianship Assistance Payment Program, and kin adoption.

(8) Basic instruction on the existing laws and procedures regarding the safety of foster youth at school and the ensuring of a harassment and violence free school environment contained in
Article 3.6 (commencing with Section 32228) of Chapter 2 of Part 19 of Division 1 of Title 1 of the Education Code.

(9) Knowledge of, and skills related to, the application of the reasonable and prudent parent standard for the participation of the child in age or developmentally appropriate activities, as set forth in Section 1522.44 of the Health and Safety Code.

(c) In addition to the requirements of subdivisions (a) and (b), each community college district with a foster care education program, in providing the orientation program,
shall develop appropriate program parameters in collaboration with the counties.

(d) Each community college district with a foster care education program shall make every attempt to make the training and orientation programs for relative or nonrelative extended family member caregivers highly accessible in the communities in which they reside.

(e) When a child is placed with a relative or nonrelative extended family member caregiver, the county shall inform the caregiver of the availability of training and orientation programs and it is the intent of the Legislature that the county shall forward the names and addresses of relative or nonrelative extended family member caregivers to the appropriate community colleges providing the training and orientation programs.

(f) This section shall not be construed to preclude
counties from developing or expanding existing training and orientation programs for foster care providers to include relative or nonrelative extended family member caregivers.

(g) This section shall remain in effect only until January 1, 2017, and as of that date is repealed, unless a later enacted statute, that is enacted before January 1, 2017, deletes or extends that date.

SEC. 106.3.

Section 16003 of the Welfare and Institutions Code is amended to read:

16003.

(a) In order to promote the successful implementation of the statutory preference for foster care placement with a relative caregiver as set forth in Section 7950 of the Family Code, each community college district with a foster care education program shall make available orientation and training, pursuant to Sections 1522.44 and 1529.2 of the Health and Safety Code, to the relative or nonrelative extended family member
caregiver into whose care the county has placed a foster child. The training shall include, but is not limited to, courses that cover the following:

(1) The role, rights, and responsibilities of a relative or nonrelative extended family member caregiver caring for a child in foster care, including the right of a foster child to have fair and equal access to all available services, placement, care, treatment, and benefits, and to not be subjected to discrimination or harassment on the basis of actual or perceived race, ethnic group identification, ancestry, national origin, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, mental or physical disability, or HIV
status.

(2) An overview of the child protective system.

(3) The effects of child abuse and neglect on child development.

(4) Positive discipline and the importance of self-esteem.

(5) Health issues in foster care, including, but not limited to, the information described in subdivision (d) of Section 16501.4.

(6) Accessing education and health services that are available to foster children.

(7) Relationship and safety issues
regarding contact with one or both of the birth parents.

(8) Permanency options for relative or nonrelative extended family member caregivers, including legal guardianship, the Kinship Guardianship Assistance Payment Program, and kin adoption.

(9) Information on resources available for those who meet eligibility criteria, including out-of-home care payments, the Medi-Cal program, in-home supportive services, and other similar resources.

(11) Basic instruction on the existing laws and procedures regarding the safety of foster youth at school and the ensuring of a
harassment and violence free school environment contained in the Article 3.6 (commencing with Section 32228) of Chapter 2 of Part 19 of Division 1 of Title 1 of the Education Code.

(12) Knowledge of, and skills related to, the application of the reasonable and prudent parent standard for the participation of the child in age or developmentally appropriate activities, as set forth in Section 1522.44 of the
Health and Safety Code.

(b) In addition to training made available pursuant to subdivision (a), each community college district with a foster care education program shall make training available to a relative or nonrelative extended family member caregiver that includes, but need not be limited to, courses that cover all of the following:

(2) Health issues in foster
care, including, but not limited to, the information described in subdivision (d) of Section 16501.4.

(3) Positive discipline and the importance of self-esteem.

(4) Emancipation and independent living.

(5) Accessing education and health services available to foster children.

(6) Relationship and safety issues regarding contact with one or both of the birth parents.

(7) Permanency options for relative or nonrelative extended family member caregivers, including legal guardianship, the Kinship Guardianship Assistance Payment Program, and kin adoption.

(8) Basic instruction on the
existing laws and procedures regarding the safety of foster youth at school and the ensuring of a harassment and violence free school environment contained in the Article 3.6 (commencing with Section 32228) of Chapter 2 of Part 19 of Division 1 of Title 1 of the Education Code.

(9) Knowledge of, and skills related to, the application of the reasonable and prudent parent standard for the participation of the
child in age or developmentally appropriate activities, as set forth in Section 1522.44 of the Health and Safety Code.

(c) In addition to the requirements of subdivisions (a) and (b), each community college district with a foster care education program, in providing the orientation program, shall develop appropriate program parameters in collaboration with the counties.

(d) Each community college district with a foster care education program shall make every attempt to make the training and orientation programs for relative or nonrelative extended family member caregivers highly accessible in the communities in which they reside.

(e) When a child is placed with a relative or nonrelative extended family member caregiver, the county shall inform the caregiver of the availability of training and
orientation programs and it is the intent of the Legislature that the county shall forward the names and addresses of relative or nonrelative extended family member caregivers to the appropriate community colleges providing the training and orientation programs.

(f) This section shall not be construed to preclude counties from developing or expanding existing training and orientation programs for foster care providers to include relative or nonrelative extended family member caregivers.

(g) This section shall remain in effect only until January 1, 2017, and as of that date is repealed, unless a later enacted statute, that is enacted before January 1, 2017, deletes or extends that date.

SEC. 107.

Section 16003.5 is added to the Welfare and Institutions Code, to read:

16003.5.

(a) Any state funding allocated to counties for the purpose of recruiting, retaining, and supporting foster parents, relative caregivers, and resource families shall be used to increase the capacity and use of home-based family care and the provision of services and supports to such caregivers. Allowable expenditures of those funds shall include, but not be limited to, and shall be used to supplement and not supplant, resources used by a county for any of the following purposes:

(1) Staffing to provide and improve direct services and supports to licensed foster family homes, approved resource families, and relative caregivers, and to remove any barriers in those
areas
defined as priorities in the county implementation plan and subsequent reports on outcomes.

(2) Exceptional child needs not covered by the caregiver-specific rate that would normalize the child’s experience, stabilize the placement, or enhance the child’s well-being.

(5) Emerging technological, evidence-informed, or other nontraditional approaches to outreach to potential foster family homes, resource families, and relatives.

(b) (1) The department shall provide available funding to counties based upon its approval of plans submitted by each county that requests funding described in subdivision (a). Each county plan shall be submitted by September 1 of any year in which funding is available. Each county plan shall include all of the following:

(A) A definition of the specific goal or goals related to increasing the capacity and use of home-based family care and the provision of services and supports to such caregivers that the county intends to achieve.

(B) A description of the strategy or strategies the county proposes to pursue to address the goal or goals identified in subparagraph (A).

(C) An
explanation or rationale for the proposed strategy or strategies relative to the goal or goals identified in subparagraph (A).

(D) A list or description of the outcomes that shall be reported pursuant to subdivision (c), including baseline data for those outcomes.

(2) The department shall develop, following consultation with the County Welfare Directors Association of California and the Chief Probation Officers of California, criteria for the approval of county plans submitted pursuant to paragraph (1).

(c) As a condition of accepting state funding described in subdivision (a), counties receiving that funding shall, by September 30 of the year following the end of the fiscal year in which the funding was
available, report to the department the outcomes achieved through the use of that funding and the activities that contributed to those outcomes. This report from each receiving county shall be made in a manner prescribed by the department, following consultation with the County Welfare Directors Association of California and the Chief Probation Officers of California. Using these reports, the department shall share best practices among counties and shall periodically update the Legislature.

(d) Funding for the purposes of this section shall be subject to an appropriation by the Legislature.

SEC. 108.

Section 16501 of the Welfare and Institutions Code is amended to read:

16501.

(a) (1) As used in this chapter, “child welfare services” means public social services that are directed toward the accomplishment of any or all of the following purposes: protecting and promoting the welfare of all children, including disabled, homeless, dependent, or neglected children; preventing or remedying, or assisting in the solution of problems which may result in, the neglect, abuse, exploitation, or delinquency of children; preventing the unnecessary separation of children from their families by identifying family problems, assisting families
in resolving their problems, and preventing breakup of the family where the prevention of child removal is desirable and possible; restoring to their families children who have been removed, by the provision of services to the child and the families; identifying children to be placed in suitable adoptive homes, in cases where restoration to the biological family is not possible or appropriate; and ensuring adequate care of children away from their homes, in cases where the child cannot be returned home or cannot be placed for adoption.

(2) “Child welfare services” also means services provided on behalf of children alleged to be the victims of child abuse, neglect, or exploitation. The child welfare services provided on behalf of each child represent a continuum of services, including emergency response services, family
preservation services, family maintenance services, family reunification services, and permanent placement services, including supportive transition services. The individual child’s case plan is the guiding principle in the provision of these services. The case plan shall be developed within a maximum of 60 days of the initial removal of the child or of the in-person response required under subdivision (f) if the child has not been removed from his or her home, or by the date of the dispositional hearing pursuant to Section 358, whichever comes first.

(3) “Child welfare services” are best provided in a framework that integrates service planning and delivery among multiple service systems, including the mental health system, using a team-based approach, such as a child and family team. A child and family team brings together individuals that
engage with the child or youth and family in assessing, planning, and delivering services consistent with paragraph (1) of subdivision (d) of Section 16501.1. Use of a team approach increases efficiency, and thus reduces cost, by increasing coordination of formal services and integrating the natural and informal supports available to the child or youth and family.

(4) “Child and family team” means a group of individuals who are convened by the placing agency and who are engaged through a variety of team-based processes to identify the strengths and needs of the child or youth and his or her family, and to help achieve positive outcomes for safety, permanency, and well-being.

(A) The activities of the team shall include, but not be limited to, both of the following:

(i) Providing input into the development of a child and family plan that is strengths-based, needs-driven, and culturally relevant.

(ii) Providing input into the placement decision made by the placing agency and the services to be provided in order to support the child or youth.

(B) The child and family team process shall engage the child or youth, the child’s family, and other people important to the family or to the child or youth in meeting the objectives set forth in subparagraph (A). The child and family team shall also include representatives who provide formal supports to the child or youth and family when appropriate, including, but not limited to, the caregiver, the placing agency caseworker, a
representative from a foster family agency or short-term residential treatment center with which a child or youth is placed, a county
mental health representative, a representative from the regional center when the child is eligible for regional center service, and a representative of the child’s or youth’s tribe or Indian custodian, as applicable. As appropriate, the child and family team also may include other formal supports, such as substance use disorder treatment professionals and educational professionals, providing services to the child or youth and family. For purposes of this definition, the child and family team also may include extended family and informal support persons, such as friends, coaches, faith-based connections, and tribes as identified by the child or youth and family. If placement into a short-term residential treatment center or a foster family agency that provides treatment services has occurred or is being considered, the mental health representative is required to be a licensed
mental health professional. Any party to the child’s case who is represented by an attorney may consult with his or her attorney regarding this process. The child or youth and his or her family may request specific persons to be included on the child and family team. Nothing shall preclude another agency serving the child or youth from convening a team in collaboration with the placing agency.

(5) Child welfare services may include, but are not limited to, a range of service-funded activities, including case management, counseling, emergency shelter care, emergency in-home caretakers, temporary in-home caretakers, respite care, therapeutic day services, teaching and demonstrating homemakers, parenting training, substance abuse testing, and transportation. These service-funded activities shall be available to children and their families
in all phases of the child welfare program in accordance with the child’s case plan and departmental regulations. Funding for services is limited to the amount appropriated in the annual Budget Act and other available county funds.

(6) Service-funded activities to be provided may be determined by each county, based upon individual child and family needs as reflected in the service plan.

(7) As used in this chapter, “emergency shelter care” means emergency shelter provided to children who have been removed pursuant to Section 300 from their parent or parents or their guardian or guardians. The department may establish, by regulation, the time periods for which emergency shelter care shall be funded. For the purposes of this paragraph, “emergency shelter care” may include
“transitional shelter care facilities” as defined in paragraph (11) of subdivision (a) of Section 1502 of the Health and Safety Code.

(b) As used in this chapter, “respite care” means temporary care for periods not to exceed 72 hours, and, in order to preserve the placement, may be extended up to 14 days in any one month pending the development of policies and regulations in consultation with county placing agencies and stakeholders. This care may be provided to the child’s parents or guardians. This care shall not be limited by regulation to care over 24 hours. These services shall not be provided for the purpose of routine, ongoing child care.

(c) The county shall provide child welfare services as needed pursuant to an approved service plan and in accordance with regulations
promulgated, in consultation with the counties, by the department. Counties may contract for service-funded activities as defined in paragraph (1) of subdivision (a). Counties shall not
contract for needs assessment, client eligibility determination, or any other activity as specified by regulations of the State Department of Social Services, except as specifically authorized in Section 16100.

(d) Nothing in this chapter shall be construed to affect duties which are delegated to probation officers pursuant to Sections 601 and 654.

(e) Any county may utilize volunteer individuals to supplement professional child welfare services by providing ancillary support services in accordance with regulations adopted by the State Department of Social Services.

(f) As used in this chapter, emergency response services consist of a response system providing in-person response, 24 hours a day, seven
days a week, to reports of abuse, neglect, or exploitation, as required by Article 2.5 (commencing with Section 11164) of Chapter 2 of Title 1 of Part 4 of the Penal Code for the purpose of investigation pursuant to Section 11166 of the Penal Code and to determine the necessity for providing initial intake services and crisis intervention to maintain the child safely in his or her own home or to protect the safety of the child. County welfare departments shall respond to any report of imminent danger to a child immediately and all other reports within 10 calendar days. An in-person response is not required when the county welfare department, based upon an evaluation of risk, determines that an in-person response is not appropriate. This evaluation includes collateral, contacts, a review of previous referrals, and other relevant information, as indicated.

(g) As used in this chapter, family maintenance services are activities designed to provide in-home protective services to prevent or remedy neglect, abuse, or exploitation, for the purposes of preventing separation of children from their families.

(h) As used in this chapter, family reunification services are activities designed to provide time-limited foster care services to prevent or remedy neglect, abuse, or exploitation, when the child cannot safely remain at home, and needs temporary foster care, while services are provided to reunite the family.

(i) As used in this chapter, permanent placement services are activities designed to provide an alternate permanent family structure for children who because of abuse, neglect, or exploitation cannot safely remain at home
and who are unlikely to ever return home. These services shall be provided on behalf of children for whom there has been a judicial determination of a permanent plan for adoption, legal guardianship, or long-term foster care, and, as needed, shall include supportive transition services to nonminor
dependents, as described in subdivision (v) of Section 11400.

(j) As used in this chapter, family preservation services include those services specified in Section 16500.5 to avoid or limit out-of-home placement of children, and may include those services specified in that section to place children in the least restrictive environment possible.

(k) (1) (A) In any county electing to implement this subdivision, all county welfare department employees who have frequent and routine contact with children shall, by February 1, 1997, and all welfare department employees who are expected to have frequent and routine contact with children and who are hired on or after January 1, 1996, and all such employees whose duties change after
January 1, 1996, to include frequent and routine contact with children, shall, if the employees provide services to
children who are alleged victims of abuse, neglect, or exploitation, sign a declaration under penalty of perjury regarding any prior criminal conviction, and shall provide a set of fingerprints to the county welfare director.

(B) The county welfare director shall secure from the Department of Justice a criminal record to determine whether the employee has ever been convicted of a crime other than a minor traffic violation. The Department of Justice shall deliver the criminal record to the county welfare director.

(C) If it is found that the employee has been convicted of a crime, other than a minor traffic violation, the county welfare director shall determine whether there is substantial and convincing evidence to support a reasonable belief that the employee is of good
character so as to justify frequent and routine contact with children.

(D) No exemption shall be granted pursuant to subparagraph (C) if the person has been convicted of a sex offense against a minor, or has been convicted of an offense specified in Section 220, 243.4, 264.1, 273d, 288, or 289 of the Penal Code, or in paragraph (1) of Section 273a of, or subdivision (a) or (b) of Section 368 of, the Penal Code, or has been convicted of an offense specified in subdivision (c) of Section 667.5 of the Penal Code. The county welfare director shall suspend such a person from any duties involving frequent and routine contact with children.

(E) Notwithstanding subparagraph (D), the county welfare director may grant an exemption if the employee or prospective employee, who was convicted
of a crime against an individual specified in paragraph (1) or (7) of subdivision (c) of Section 667.5 of the Penal Code, has been rehabilitated as provided in Section 4852.03 of the Penal Code and has maintained the conduct required in Section 4852.05 of the Penal Code for at least 10 years and has the recommendation of the district attorney representing the employee’s or prospective employee’s county of residence, or if the employee or prospective employee has received a certificate of rehabilitation pursuant to Chapter 3.5 (commencing with Section 4852.01) of Title 6 of Part 3 of the Penal Code. In that case, the county welfare director may give the employee or prospective employee an opportunity to explain the conviction and shall consider that explanation in the evaluation of the criminal conviction record.

(F) If no criminal
record information has been recorded, the county welfare director shall cause a statement of that fact to be included in that person’s personnel file.

(2) For purposes of this subdivision, a conviction means a plea or verdict of guilty or a conviction following a plea of nolo contendere. Any action that the county welfare director is permitted to take following the establishment of a conviction may be taken when the time for appeal has elapsed, or the judgment of conviction has been affirmed on appeal or when an order granting probation is made suspending the imposition of sentence, notwithstanding a subsequent order pursuant to Sections 1203.4 and 1203.4a of the Penal Code permitting the person to withdraw his or her plea of guilty and to enter a plea of not guilty, or setting aside the verdict of guilty, or dismissing the accusation,
information, or indictment. For purposes of this subdivision, the record of a conviction, or a copy thereof certified by the clerk of the court or by a judge of the court in which the conviction occurred, shall be conclusive evidence of the conviction.

SEC. 108.5.

Section 16501 of the Welfare and Institutions Code is amended to read:

16501.

(a) (1) As used in this chapter, “child welfare services” means public social services that are directed toward the accomplishment of any or all of the following purposes: protecting and promoting the welfare of all children, including
disabled,
homeless, dependent, or neglected children; preventing or remedying, or assisting in the solution of problems which may result in, the neglect, abuse, exploitation, or delinquency of children; preventing the unnecessary separation of children from their families by identifying family problems, assisting families in resolving their problems, and preventing breakup of the family where the prevention of child removal is desirable and possible; restoring to their families children who have been removed, by the provision of services to the child and the families; identifying children to be placed in suitable adoptive homes, in cases where restoration to the biological family is not possible or appropriate; and ensuring adequate care of children away from their homes, in cases where the child cannot be returned home or cannot be placed for adoption.

(2) “Child welfare services” also means services provided on behalf of children alleged to be the victims of child abuse, neglect, or exploitation. The child welfare services provided on behalf of each child represent a continuum of services, including emergency response services, family preservation services, family maintenance services, family reunification services, and permanent placement services, including supportive transition services. The individual child’s case plan is the guiding principle in the provision of these services. The case plan shall be developed within a maximum of 60 days of the initial removal of the child or of the in-person response required under subdivision (f) if the child has not been removed from his or her home, or by the date of the dispositional hearing pursuant to Section 358, whichever comes first.

(3) “Child welfare services” are best provided in a framework that integrates service planning and delivery among multiple service systems, including the mental health system, using a team-based approach, such as a child and family team. A child and family team brings together individuals that engage with the child or youth and family in assessing, planning, and delivering services consistent with paragraph (1) of subdivision (d) of Section 16501.1. Use of a team approach increases efficiency, and thus reduces cost, by increasing coordination of formal services and integrating the natural and informal supports available to the child or youth and family.

(4) “Child and family team” means a group of individuals who are convened by the placing agency and who are engaged through a
variety of team-based processes to identify the strengths and needs of the child or youth and his or her family, and to help achieve positive outcomes for safety, permanency, and well-being.

(A) The activities of the team shall include, but not be limited to, both of the following:

(i) Providing input into the development of a child and family plan that is strengths-based, needs-driven, and culturally relevant.

(ii) Providing input into the placement decision made by the placing agency and the
services to be provided in order to support the child or youth.

(B) The child and family team process shall engage the child or youth, the child’s family, and other people important to the family or to the child or youth in meeting the objectives set forth in subparagraph (A). The child and family team shall also include representatives who provide formal supports to the child or youth and family when appropriate, including, but not limited to, the caregiver, the placing agency caseworker, a representative from a foster family agency or short-term residential treatment center with which a child or youth is placed, a county mental health representative, a representative from the regional center when the child is eligible for regional center service, and a representative of the child’s or youth’s tribe or Indian custodian, as applicable.
As appropriate, the child and family team also may include other formal supports, such as substance use disorder treatment professionals and educational professionals, providing services to the child or youth and family. For purposes of this definition, the child and family team also may include extended family and informal support persons, such as friends, coaches, faith-based connections, and tribes as identified by the child or youth and family. If placement into a short-term residential treatment center or a foster family agency that provides treatment services has occurred or is being considered, the mental health representative is required to be a licensed mental health professional. Any party to the child’s case who is represented by an attorney may consult with his or her attorney regarding this process. The child or youth and his or her family may request specific persons to be included on the child and family team. Nothing shall preclude another agency serving the child or youth from convening a
team in collaboration with the placing agency.

(5) Child welfare services may include, but are not limited to, a range of service-funded activities, including case management, counseling, emergency shelter care, emergency in-home caretakers, temporary in-home caretakers, respite care, therapeutic day services, teaching and demonstrating homemakers, parenting training, substance abuse testing, and transportation. These service-funded activities shall be available to children and their families in all phases of the child welfare program in accordance with the child’s case plan and departmental regulations. Funding for services is limited to the
amount appropriated in the annual Budget Act and other available county funds.

(6) Service-funded activities to be provided may be determined by each county, based upon individual child and family needs as reflected in the service plan.

(7) As used in this chapter, “emergency shelter care” means emergency shelter provided to children
who have been removed pursuant to Section 300 from their parent or parents or their guardian or guardians. The department may establish, by regulation, the time periods for which emergency shelter care shall be funded. For the purposes of this paragraph, “emergency shelter care” may include “transitional shelter care facilities” as defined in paragraph (11) of subdivision (a) of Section 1502 of the Health and Safety Code.

(b) As used in this chapter, “respite care” means temporary care for periods not to exceed 72 hours, and, in order to preserve the placement, may be extended up to 14 days in any one month pending the development of policies and regulations in consultation with county placing agencies and stakeholders. This care may be provided to
the child’s parents or guardians. This care shall not be limited by regulation to care over 24 hours. These services shall not be provided for the purpose of routine, ongoing child care.

(c) The county shall provide child welfare services as needed pursuant to an approved service plan and in accordance with regulations promulgated, in consultation with the counties, by the department. Counties may contract for service-funded activities as defined in paragraph (1) of subdivision (a). Counties shall not contract for needs assessment, client eligibility determination, or any other activity as specified by
regulations of the State Department of Social Services, except as specifically authorized in Section 16100.

(d) Nothing in this chapter shall be construed to affect duties which are delegated to probation officers pursuant to Sections 601 and 654.

(e) Any county may utilize volunteer individuals to supplement professional child welfare services by providing ancillary support services in accordance with regulations adopted by the State Department of Social Services.

(f) As used in this chapter, emergency response services consist of a response system providing in-person response, 24 hours a day, seven days a week, to reports of abuse, neglect, or exploitation, as required by Article 2.5 (commencing with Section 11164) of Chapter 2 of Title 1 of Part 4 of the Penal Code for the purpose of investigation pursuant to
Section 11166 of the Penal Code and to determine the necessity for providing initial intake services and crisis intervention to maintain the child safely in his or her own home or to protect the safety of the child. County welfare departments shall respond to any report of imminent danger to a child immediately and all other reports within 10 calendar days. An in-person response is not required when the county welfare department, based upon an evaluation of risk, determines that an in-person response is not appropriate. This evaluation includes collateral, contacts, a review of previous referrals, and other relevant information, as indicated.

(g) As used in this chapter, family maintenance services are activities designed to provide in-home protective services to prevent or remedy neglect, abuse, or exploitation, for the purposes of preventing separation of children from their families.

(h) As used in this chapter, family reunification services are activities designed to provide time-limited foster care services to prevent or remedy neglect, abuse, or exploitation, when the child cannot safely remain at home, and needs temporary foster care, while services are provided to reunite the family.

(i) (1) As used in this chapter, permanent placement services are activities designed to provide an alternate permanent family structure for children who because of abuse, neglect, or exploitation cannot safely remain at home and who are unlikely to ever return home. These services shall be provided on behalf of children for whom there has been a judicial determination of a permanent plan for
adoption, legal guardianship,
placement with a fit and willing relative, or continued foster care placement, and, as needed, shall include supportive transition services to nonminor dependents, as described in subdivision (v) of Section 11400.

(2) For purposes of this section, “another planned permanent living arrangement” means a permanent plan ordered by the court for a child 16 years of age or older or a nonminor dependent, when there is a compelling reason or reasons to determine that it is not in the best interest of the child or nonminor dependent to return home, be placed for adoption, be placed for tribal customary adoption in the case of an Indian child, or be placed with a fit and willing relative. Placement in a group home, or, on and after January 1, 2017, a short-term residential treatment facility, shall not be the identified permanent
plan for any child or nonminor dependent.

(j) As used in this chapter, family preservation services include those services specified in Section 16500.5 to avoid or limit out-of-home placement of children, and may include those services specified in that section to place children in the least restrictive environment possible.

(k) (1) (A) In any county electing to implement this subdivision, all county welfare department employees who have frequent and routine contact with children shall, by February 1, 1997, and all welfare department employees who are expected to have frequent and routine contact with children and who are hired on or after January 1, 1996, and all such employees whose duties change after January 1, 1996, to include frequent and routine contact with children, shall, if the employees provide
services to children who are alleged victims of abuse, neglect, or exploitation, sign a declaration under penalty of perjury regarding any prior criminal conviction, and shall provide a set of fingerprints to the county welfare director.

(B) The county welfare director shall secure from the Department of Justice a criminal record to determine whether the employee has ever been convicted of a crime other than a minor traffic violation. The Department of Justice shall deliver the criminal record to the county welfare director.

(C) If it is found that the employee has been convicted of a crime, other than a minor traffic violation, the county welfare director shall determine whether there is substantial and convincing evidence to support a reasonable belief that the employee is of good character so as to justify frequent and routine contact with children.

(D) No exemption shall be granted pursuant to subparagraph (C) if the person has been convicted of a sex offense against a minor, or has been convicted of an offense specified in Section 220, 243.4, 264.1, 273d, 288, or 289 of the Penal Code, or in paragraph (1) of Section 273a of, or subdivision (a) or (b) of Section 368 of, the Penal Code, or has been convicted of an offense specified in subdivision (c) of Section 667.5 of the Penal Code. The county welfare director shall suspend such a person from any duties involving frequent and routine contact with children.

(E) Notwithstanding subparagraph (D), the county welfare director may grant an exemption if the employee or prospective employee, who was convicted of a crime against an individual specified in paragraph (1) or (7) of subdivision (c) of Section 667.5 of the Penal Code, has been rehabilitated as provided in Section 4852.03
of the Penal Code and has maintained the conduct required in Section 4852.05 of the Penal Code for at least 10 years and has the recommendation of the district attorney representing the employee’s or prospective employee’s county of residence, or if the employee or prospective employee has received a certificate of rehabilitation pursuant to Chapter 3.5 (commencing with Section 4852.01) of Title 6 of Part 3 of the Penal Code. In that case, the county welfare director may give the employee or prospective employee an opportunity to explain the conviction and shall consider that explanation in the evaluation of the criminal conviction record.

(F) If no criminal record information has been recorded, the county welfare director shall cause a statement of that fact to be included in that person’s personnel file.

(2) For purposes of this subdivision, a conviction means a plea or verdict
of guilty or a conviction following a plea of nolo contendere. Any action that the county welfare director is permitted to take following the establishment of a conviction may be taken when the time for appeal has elapsed, or the judgment of conviction has been affirmed on appeal or when an order granting probation is made suspending the imposition of sentence, notwithstanding a subsequent order pursuant to Sections 1203.4 and 1203.4a of the Penal Code permitting the person to withdraw his or her plea of guilty and to enter a plea of not guilty, or setting aside the verdict of guilty, or dismissing the accusation, information, or indictment. For purposes of this subdivision, the record of a conviction, or a copy thereof certified by the clerk of the court or by a judge of the court in which the conviction
occurred, shall be conclusive evidence of the conviction.

SEC. 109.

Section 16501.1 of the Welfare and Institutions Code is amended to read:

16501.1.

(a) (1) The Legislature finds and declares that the foundation and central unifying tool in child welfare services is the case plan.

(2) The Legislature further finds and declares that a case plan ensures that the child receives protection and safe and proper care and case management, and that services are provided to the child and parents or other caretakers, as appropriate, in order to improve conditions in the parent’s home, to facilitate the safe return of the child to a safe home or the permanent placement of the child, and to address the needs of the child while in foster care.

(3) The
agency shall consider the recommendations of the child and family team, as defined in paragraph (4) of subdivision (a) of Section 16501, if any are available. The agency shall document the rationale for any inconsistencies between the case plan and the child and family team recommendations.

(b) (1) A case plan shall be based upon the principles of this section and the input from the child and family team.

(2) The case plan shall document that a preplacement assessment of the service needs of the child and family, and preplacement preventive services, have been provided, and that reasonable efforts to prevent out-of-home placement have been made. Preplacement services may include intensive mental health
services in the home or a community setting and the reasonable efforts made to prevent out-of home placement.

(3) In determining the reasonable services to be offered or provided, the child’s health and safety shall be the paramount concerns.

(4) Upon a determination pursuant to paragraph (1) of subdivision (e) of Section 361.5 that reasonable services will be offered to a parent who is incarcerated in a county jail or state prison, detained by the United States Department of Homeland Security, or deported to his or her country of origin, the case plan shall include information, to the extent possible, about a parent’s incarceration in a county jail or the state prison, detention by the United States Department of Homeland Security, or deportation during the time that a
minor child of that parent is involved in dependency care.

(5) Reasonable services shall be offered or provided to make it possible for a child to return to a safe home environment, unless, pursuant to subdivisions (b) and (e) of Section 361.5, the court determines that reunification services shall not be provided.

(6) If reasonable services are not ordered, or are terminated, reasonable efforts shall be made to place the child in a timely manner in accordance with the permanent plan and to complete all steps necessary to finalize the permanent placement of the child.

(c) If out-of-home placement is used to attain case plan goals, the case plan shall consider the recommendations of the child and family team.

(d) (1) The case plan shall include a description of the type of home or institution in which the child is to be placed, and the reasons for that placement decision. The decision regarding choice of placement shall be based upon selection of a safe setting that is the least restrictive family setting that promotes normal childhood experiences and the most appropriate setting that meets the child’s individual needs and is available, in proximity to the parent’s home, in proximity to the child’s school, and consistent with the selection of the environment best suited to meet the child’s special needs and best interests. The selection shall consider, in order of priority, placement with relatives, nonrelated extended family members, and tribal members; foster family homes, resource families, and nontreatment certified homes of
foster family agencies; followed by treatment and intensive treatment certified homes of foster family agencies; or multidimensional treatment foster care homes or therapeutic foster care homes; group care placements in the order of short-term residential treatment centers, group homes, community treatment facilities, and out-of-state residential treatment pursuant to Part 5 (commencing with Section 7900) of Division 12 of the Family Code.

(2) If a short-term intensive treatment center placement is selected for a child, the case plan shall indicate the needs of the child that necessitate this placement, the plan for transitioning the child to a less restrictive environment, and the projected timeline by which the child will be transitioned to a less restrictive environment. This section of the case plan shall be reviewed and updated
at least semiannually.

(A) The case plan for placements in a group home, or commencing January 1, 2017, in a short-term residential treatment center, shall indicate that the county has taken into consideration Section 16010.8.

(B) After January 1, 2017, a child and family team meeting as defined in Section 16501 shall be convened by the county placing agency for the purpose of identifying the supports and services needed to achieve permanency and enable the child or youth to be placed in the least restrictive family setting that promotes normal childhood experiences.

(3) On or after January 1, 2012, for a nonminor dependent, as defined in subdivision (v) of Section 11400, who is receiving AFDC-FC benefits up
to 21 years of age pursuant to Section 11403, in addition to the above requirements, the selection of the placement, including a supervised independent living placement, as described in subdivision (w) of Section 11400, shall also be based upon the developmental needs of young adults by providing opportunities to have incremental responsibilities that prepare a nonminor dependent to transition to independent living. If admission to, or continuation in, a group home or short-term residential treatment center placement is being considered for a nonminor dependent, the group home or short-term residential treatment center placement approval decision shall include a youth-driven, team-based case planning process, as defined by the department, in consultation with stakeholders. The case plan shall consider the full range of placement options, and shall specify why admission to, or continuation in, a group
home placement is the best alternative available at the time to meet the special needs or well-being of the nonminor dependent, and how the placement will contribute to the nonminor dependent’s transition to independent living. The case plan shall specify the treatment strategies that will be used to prepare the nonminor dependent for discharge to a less restrictive family setting that promotes normal childhood experiences, including a target date for discharge from the group home placement. The placement shall be reviewed and updated on a regular, periodic basis to ensure that continuation in the group home placement remains in the best interests of the nonminor dependent and that progress is being made in achieving case plan goals leading to independent living. The group home placement planning process shall begin as soon as it becomes clear to the county welfare department or probation
office that a foster child in group home placement is likely to remain in group home placement on his or her 18th birthday, in order to expedite the transition to a less restrictive family setting that promotes normal childhood experiences, if he or she becomes a nonminor dependent. The case planning process shall include informing the youth of all of his or her options, including, but not limited to, admission to or continuation in a group home placement. Consideration for continuation of existing group home placement for a nonminor dependent under 19 years of age may include the need to stay in the same placement in order to complete high school. After a nonminor dependent either completes high school or attains his or her 19th birthday, whichever is earlier, continuation in or admission to a group home placement is prohibited unless the nonminor dependent satisfies the conditions of paragraph
(5) of subdivision (b) of Section 11403, and group home placement functions as a short-term transition to the appropriate system of care. Treatment services provided by the group home placement to the nonminor dependent to alleviate or ameliorate the medical condition, as described in paragraph (5) of subdivision (b) of Section 11403, shall not constitute the sole basis to disqualify a nonminor dependent from the group home placement.

(4) In addition to the requirements of paragraphs (1) to (3), inclusive, and taking into account other statutory considerations regarding placement, the selection of the most appropriate home that will meet the child’s special needs and best interests shall also promote educational stability by taking into consideration proximity to the child’s school of origin, and school attendance area, the number of
school transfers the child has previously experienced, and the child’s school matriculation schedule, in addition to other indicators of educational stability that the Legislature hereby encourages the State Department of Social Services and the State Department of Education to develop.

(e) A written case plan shall be completed within a maximum of 60 days of the initial removal of the child or of the in-person response required under subdivision (f) of Section 16501 if the child has not been removed from his or her home, or by the date of the dispositional hearing pursuant to Section 358, whichever occurs first. The case plan shall be updated, as the service needs of the child and family dictate. At a minimum, the case plan shall be updated in conjunction with each status review hearing conducted pursuant to Sections 364, 366, 366.3, and
366.31, and the hearing conducted pursuant to Section 366.26, but no less frequently than once every six months. Each updated case plan shall include a description of the services that have been provided to the child under the plan and an evaluation of the appropriateness and effectiveness of those services.

(1) It is the intent of the Legislature that extending the maximum time available for preparing a written case plan from 30 to 60 days will afford caseworkers time to actively engage families, and to solicit and integrate into the case plan the input of the child and the child’s family, as well as the input of relatives and other interested parties.

(2) The extension of the maximum time available for preparing a written case plan from the 30 to 60 days shall be effective
90 days after the date that the department gives counties written notice that necessary changes have been made to the Child Welfare Services Case Management System to account for the 60-day timeframe for preparing a written case plan.

(g) The case plan shall be developed
considering the recommendations of the child and family team, as follows:

(1) The case plan shall be based upon an assessment of the circumstances that required child welfare services intervention. The child shall be involved in developing the case plan as age and developmentally appropriate.

(2) The case plan shall identify specific goals and the appropriateness of the planned services in meeting those goals.

(3) The case plan shall identify the original allegations of abuse or neglect, as defined in Article 2.5 (commencing with Section 11164) of Chapter 2 of Title 1 of Part 4 of the Penal Code, or the conditions
cited as the basis for declaring the child a dependent of the court pursuant to Section 300, or all of these, and the other precipitating incidents that led to child welfare services intervention.

(4) The case plan shall include a description of the schedule of the placement agency contacts with the child and the family or other caretakers. The frequency of these contacts shall be in accordance with regulations adopted by the State Department of Social Services. If the child has been placed in foster care out of state, the county social worker or probation officer, or a social worker or probation officer on the staff of the agency in the state in which the child has been placed, shall visit the child in a foster family home or the home of a relative, consistent with federal law and in accordance with the department’s approved state plan. For children
in out-of-state group home facilities, visits shall be conducted at least monthly, pursuant to Section 16516.5. At least once every six months, at the time of a regularly scheduled placement agency contact with the foster child, the child’s social worker or probation officer shall inform the child of his or her rights as a foster child, as specified in Section 16001.9. The social worker or probation officer shall provide the information to the child in a manner appropriate to the age or developmental level of the child.

(5) (A) When out-of-home services are used, the frequency of contact between the natural parents or legal guardians and the child shall be specified in the case plan. The frequency of those contacts shall reflect overall case goals, and consider other principles outlined in this section.

(B) Information regarding any court-ordered visitation between the child and the natural parents or legal guardians, and the terms and conditions needed to facilitate the visits while protecting the safety of the child, shall be provided to the child’s out-of-home caregiver as soon as possible after the court order is made.

(6) When out-of-home placement is made, the case plan shall include provisions for the development and maintenance of sibling relationships as specified in subdivisions (b), (c), and (d) of Section 16002. If appropriate, when siblings who are dependents of the juvenile court are not placed together, the social worker for each child, if different, shall communicate with each of the other social workers and ensure that the child’s siblings are informed of significant
life events that occur within their extended family. Unless it has been determined that it is inappropriate in a particular case to keep siblings informed of significant life events that occur within the extended family, the social worker shall determine the appropriate means and setting for disclosure of this information to the child commensurate with the child’s age and emotional well-being. These significant life events shall include, but shall not be limited to, the following:

(A) The death of an immediate relative.

(B) The birth of a sibling.

(C) Significant changes regarding a dependent child, unless the child objects to the sharing of the information with his or her siblings, including changes in placement, major
medical or mental health diagnoses, treatments, or hospitalizations, arrests, and changes in the permanent plan.

(7) If out-of-home placement is made in a foster family home, group home, or other child care institution that is either a substantial distance from the home of the child’s parent or out of state, the case plan shall specify the reasons why that placement is in the best interest of the child. When an out-of-state group home placement is recommended or made, the case plan shall, in addition, specify compliance with Section 7911.1 of the Family Code.

(8) A case plan shall ensure the educational stability of the child while in foster care and shall include both of the following:

(A) An assurance
that the placement takes into account the appropriateness of the current educational setting and the proximity to the school in which the child is enrolled at the time of placement.

(B) An assurance that the placement agency has coordinated with the person holding the right to make educational decisions for the child and appropriate local educational agencies to ensure that the child remains in the school in which the child is enrolled at the time of placement or, if remaining in that school is not in the best interests of the child, assurances by the placement agency and the local educational agency to provide immediate and appropriate enrollment in a new school and to provide all of the child’s educational records to the new school.

(9) (A) If out-of-home
services are used, or if parental rights have been terminated and the case plan is placement for adoption, the case plan shall include a recommendation regarding the appropriateness of unsupervised visitation between the child and any of the child’s siblings. This recommendation shall include a statement regarding the child’s and the siblings’ willingness to participate in unsupervised visitation. If the case plan includes a recommendation for unsupervised sibling visitation, the plan shall also note that information necessary to accomplish this visitation
has been provided to the child or to the child’s siblings.

(B) Information regarding the schedule and frequency of the visits between the child and siblings, as well as any court-ordered terms and conditions needed to facilitate the visits while protecting the safety of the child, shall be provided to the child’s out-of-home caregiver as soon as possible after the court order is made.

(10) If out-of-home services are used and the goal is reunification, the case plan shall describe the services to be provided to assist in reunification and the services to be provided concurrently to achieve legal permanency if efforts to reunify fail. The plan shall also consider in-state and out-of-state placements, the importance of developing and maintaining sibling relationships pursuant
to Section 16002, and the desire and willingness of the caregiver to provide legal permanency for the child if reunification is unsuccessful.

(11) If out-of-home services are used, the child has been in care for at least 12 months, and the goal is not adoptive placement, the case plan shall include documentation of the compelling reason or reasons why termination of parental rights is not in the child’s best interest. A determination completed or updated within the past 12 months by the department when it is acting as an adoption agency or by a licensed adoption agency that it is unlikely that the child will be adopted, or that one of the conditions described in paragraph (1) of subdivision (c) of Section 366.26 applies, shall be deemed a compelling reason.

(12) (A) Parents and legal guardians shall have an opportunity to review the case plan, and to sign it whenever possible, and then shall receive a copy of the plan. In a voluntary service or placement agreement, the parents or legal guardians shall be required to review and sign the case plan. Whenever possible, parents and legal guardians shall participate in the development of the case plan. Commencing January 1, 2012, for nonminor dependents, as defined in subdivision (v) of Section 11400, who are receiving AFDC-FC or CalWORKs assistance up to 21 years of age pursuant to Section 11403, the transitional independent living case plan, as set forth in subdivision (y) of Section 11400, shall be developed with, and signed by, the nonminor.

(B) Parents and legal guardians shall be advised that, pursuant to Section 1228.1 of the Evidence
Code, neither their signature on the child welfare services case plan nor their acceptance of any services prescribed in the child welfare services case plan shall constitute an admission of guilt or be used as evidence against the parent or legal guardian in a court of law. However, they shall also be advised that the parent’s or guardian’s failure to cooperate, except for good cause, in the provision of services specified in the child welfare services case plan may be used in any hearing held pursuant to Section 366.21, 366.22, or 366.25 as evidence.

(13) A child shall be given a meaningful opportunity to participate in the development of the case plan and state his or her preference for foster care placement. A child who is 12 years of age or older and in a permanent placement shall also be given the opportunity to review the case plan,
sign the case plan, and receive a copy of the case plan.

(14) The case plan shall be included in the court report and shall be considered by the court at the initial hearing and each review hearing. Modifications to the case plan made during the period between review hearings need not be approved by the court if the casework supervisor for that case determines that the modifications further the goals of the plan. If out-of-home services are used with the goal of family reunification, the case plan shall consider and describe the application of subdivision (b) of Section 11203.

(15) If the case plan has as its goal for the child a permanent plan of adoption or placement in another permanent home, it shall include a statement of the child’s wishes regarding their permanent placement
plan and an assessment of those stated wishes. The agency shall also include documentation of the steps the agency is taking to find an adoptive family or other permanent living arrangements for the child; to place the child with an adoptive family, an appropriate and willing relative, a legal guardian, or in another planned permanent living arrangement; and to finalize the adoption or legal guardianship. At a minimum, the documentation shall include child-specific recruitment efforts, such as the use of state, regional, and national adoption exchanges, including electronic exchange systems, when the child has been freed for adoption. If the plan is for kinship guardianship, the case plan shall document how the child meets the kinship guardianship eligibility requirements.

(16) (A) When appropriate, for a child who is 16
years of age or older and, commencing January 1, 2012, for a nonminor dependent, the case plan shall include the transitional independent living plan (TILP), a written description of the programs and services that will help the child, consistent with the child’s best interests, to prepare for the transition from foster care to independent living, and, in addition, whether the youth has an in-progress application pending for Title XVI Supplemental Security Income benefits or for Special Immigrant Juvenile Status or other applicable application for legal residency and an active dependency case is required for that application. When appropriate, for a nonminor dependent, the transitional independent living case plan, as described in subdivision (v) of Section 11400, shall include the TILP, a written description of the programs and services that will help the nonminor dependent, consistent with his
or her best interests, to prepare for transition from foster care and assist the youth in meeting the eligibility criteria set forth in paragraphs (1) to (5), inclusive, of subdivision (b) Section 11403. If applicable, the case plan shall describe the individualized supervision provided in the supervised independent living placement as defined in subdivision (w) of Section 11400. The case plan shall be developed with the child or nonminor dependent and individuals identified as important to the child or nonminor dependent, and shall include steps the agency is taking to ensure that the child or nonminor dependent achieves permanence, including maintaining or obtaining permanent connections to caring and committed adults.

(B) During the 90-day period prior to the participant attaining 18 years of age or older as the state may elect under Section
475(8)(B)(iii) of the federal Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. Sec. 675(8)(B)(iii)), whether during that period foster care maintenance payments are being made on the child’s behalf or the child is receiving benefits or services under Section 477 of the federal Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. Sec. 677), a caseworker or other appropriate agency staff or probation officer and other representatives of the participant, as appropriate, shall provide the youth or nonminor dependent with assistance and support in developing the written 90-day transition plan, that is personalized at the direction of the child, information as detailed as the participant elects that shall include, but not be limited to, options regarding housing, health insurance, education, local opportunities for mentors and continuing support services, and workforce supports and employment services, a power of attorney for health care,
and information regarding the advance health care directive form.

(C) For youth 16 years of age or older, the case plan shall include documentation that a consumer credit report was requested annually from each of the three major credit reporting agencies at no charge to the youth and that any results were provided to the youth. For nonminor dependents, the case plan shall include documentation that the county assisted the nonminor dependent in obtaining his or her reports. The case plan shall include documentation of barriers, if any, to obtaining the credit reports. If the consumer credit report reveals any accounts, the case plan shall detail how the county ensured the youth received assistance with interpreting the credit report and resolving any inaccuracies, including any referrals made for the assistance.

(h) If the court finds, after considering the case plan, that unsupervised sibling visitation is appropriate and has been consented to, the court shall order that the child or the child’s siblings, the child’s current caregiver, and the child’s prospective adoptive parents, if applicable, be provided with information necessary to accomplish this visitation. This section does not require or prohibit the social worker’s facilitation, transportation, or supervision of visits between the child and his or her siblings.

(i) The case plan documentation on sibling placements required under this section shall not require modification of existing case plan forms until the Child Welfare Services Case Management System is implemented on a statewide basis.

(j) When a child is 10 years of age or older and has been in out-of-home placement for six months or longer, the case plan shall include an identification of individuals, other than the child’s siblings, who are important to the child and actions necessary to maintain the child’s relationship with those individuals, provided that those relationships are in the best interest of the child. The social worker or probation officer shall ask every child who is 10 years of age or older and who has been in out-of-home placement for six months or longer to identify individuals other than the child’s siblings who are important to the child, and may ask any other child to provide that information, or may seek that information from the child and family team, as appropriate. The social worker or probation officer shall make efforts to identify other individuals who are important to the child, consistent
with the child’s best interests.

(k) The child’s caregiver shall be provided a copy of a plan outlining the child’s needs and services. The nonminor dependent’s caregiver shall be provided with a copy of the nonminor’s TILP.

(l) On or before June 30, 2008, the department, in consultation with the County Welfare Directors Association of California and other advocates, shall develop a comprehensive plan to ensure that 90 percent of foster children are visited by their caseworkers on a monthly basis by October 1, 2011, and that the majority of the visits occur in the residence of the child. The plan shall include any data reporting requirements necessary to comply with the provisions of the federal Child and Family Services Improvement Act of 2006 (Public Law 109-288).

(m) The implementation and operation of the amendments to subdivision (i) enacted at the 2005–06 Regular Session shall be subject to appropriation through the budget process and by phase, as provided in Section 366.35.

SEC. 109.5.

Section 16501.1 of the Welfare and Institutions Code is amended to read:

16501.1.

(a) (1) The Legislature finds and declares that the foundation and central unifying tool in child welfare services is the case plan.

(2) The Legislature further finds and declares that a case plan ensures that the child receives protection and safe and proper care and case management, and that services are provided to the child and parents or other caretakers, as appropriate, in order to improve conditions in the parent’s home, to facilitate the safe return of the child to a safe home or the permanent placement of the child, and to address the needs of the child while in foster care.

(3) The
agency shall consider the recommendations of the child and family team, as defined in paragraph (4) of subdivision (a) of Section 16501, if any are available. The agency shall document the rationale for any inconsistencies between the case plan and the child and family team recommendations.

(b) (1) A case plan shall be based upon the principles of this section and the input from the child and family team.

(2) The case plan shall document that a preplacement assessment of the service needs of the child and family, and preplacement preventive services, have been provided, and that reasonable efforts to prevent out-of-home placement have been made. Preplacement services may include intensive mental health services in the home or a community setting and the reasonable efforts made to prevent out-of-home placement.

(3) In
determining the reasonable services to be offered or provided, the child’s health and safety shall be the paramount concerns.

(4) Upon a determination pursuant to paragraph (1) of subdivision (e) of Section 361.5 that reasonable services will be offered to a parent who is incarcerated in a county jail or state prison, detained by the United States Department of Homeland Security, or deported to his or her country of origin, the case plan shall include information, to the extent possible, about a parent’s incarceration in a county jail or the state prison, detention by the United States Department of Homeland Security, or deportation during the time that a minor child of
that parent is involved in dependency care.

(5) Reasonable services shall be offered or provided to make it possible for a child to return to a safe home environment, unless, pursuant to subdivisions (b) and (e) of Section 361.5, the court determines that reunification services shall not be provided.

(6) If reasonable services are
not ordered, or are terminated, reasonable efforts shall be made to place the child in a timely manner in accordance with the permanent plan and to complete all steps necessary to finalize the permanent placement of the child.

(c) If out-of-home placement is used to attain case plan goals, the case plan shall consider the recommendations of the child and family team.

(d) (1) The case plan shall include a description of the type of home or institution in which the child is to be placed, and the reasons for that placement decision. The decision regarding choice of placement shall be based upon selection of a safe setting that is the least restrictive family setting that promotes normal childhood experiences and the most appropriate setting that meets the child’s individual needs and is available, in proximity to the parent’s home,
in proximity to the child’s school, and consistent with the selection of the environment best suited to meet the child’s special needs and best interests. The selection shall consider, in order of priority, placement with relatives, nonrelated extended family members, and
tribal members; foster family homes, resource families, and nontreatment certified homes of foster family agencies; followed by treatment and intensive treatment certified homes of foster family agencies; or multidimensional treatment foster care
homes or therapeutic foster care homes; group care placements in the order of short-term residential treatment centers, group homes, community treatment facilities, and out-of-state residential treatment pursuant to Part 5 (commencing with Section 7900) of Division 12 of the Family Code.

(2) If a short-term intensive treatment center placement is selected for a child, the case plan shall
indicate the needs of the child that necessitate this placement, the plan for transitioning the child to a less restrictive environment, and the projected timeline by which the child will be transitioned to a less restrictive environment. This section of the case plan shall be reviewed and updated at least semiannually.

(A) The case plan for placements in a group home, or commencing January 1, 2017, in a short-term residential treatment center, shall indicate that the county has taken into consideration Section 16010.8.

(B) After January 1, 2017, a child and family team meeting as defined in Section 16501 shall be convened by the county placing agency for the purpose of identifying the
supports and services needed to achieve permanency and enable the child or youth to be placed in the least restrictive family setting that promotes normal childhood experiences.

(3) On or after January 1, 2012, for a nonminor dependent, as defined in subdivision (v) of Section 11400, who is receiving AFDC-FC benefits up to 21 years of age pursuant to Section 11403, in addition to the above requirements, the selection of the placement, including a supervised independent living placement, as described in subdivision (w) of Section 11400, shall also be based upon the developmental needs of young adults by providing opportunities to have incremental responsibilities that prepare a nonminor dependent to transition to successful adulthood.
If admission to, or continuation in, a group home
or short-term residential treatment center placement is being considered for a nonminor dependent, the group home
or short-term residential treatment center placement approval decision shall include a youth-driven, team-based case planning process, as defined by the department, in consultation with stakeholders. The case plan shall consider the full range of placement options, and shall specify why admission to, or continuation in, a group home placement is the best alternative available at the time to meet the special needs or well-being of the nonminor dependent, and how the placement will contribute to the nonminor dependent’s transition to successful adulthood. The case plan shall specify the treatment strategies that will be used to prepare the nonminor dependent for discharge to a less restrictive
family setting that promotes normal childhood experiences, including a target date for discharge from the group home placement. The placement shall be reviewed and updated on a regular, periodic basis to ensure that continuation in the group home placement remains in the best interests of the nonminor dependent and that progress is being made in achieving case plan goals leading to successful adulthood. The group home placement planning process shall begin as soon as it becomes clear to the county welfare department or probation office that a foster child in group home placement is likely to remain in group home placement on his or her 18th birthday,
in order to expedite the transition to a less restrictive family setting that promotes normal childhood experiences, if he or she becomes a nonminor dependent. The case planning process shall include informing the youth of all of his or her options, including, but not limited to, admission to or continuation in a group home placement. Consideration for continuation of existing group home placement for a nonminor dependent under 19 years of age may include the need to stay in the same placement in order to complete high school. After a nonminor dependent either completes high school or attains his or her 19th birthday, whichever is earlier, continuation in or admission to a group home placement
is prohibited unless the nonminor dependent satisfies the conditions of paragraph (5) of subdivision (b) of Section 11403, and group home placement functions as a short-term transition to the appropriate system of care. Treatment services provided by the group home placement to the nonminor dependent to alleviate or ameliorate the medical condition, as described in paragraph (5) of subdivision (b) of Section 11403, shall not constitute the sole basis to disqualify a nonminor dependent from the group home placement.

(4) In addition to the requirements of paragraphs (1) to (3), inclusive, and taking into account other statutory considerations regarding placement, the selection of the most appropriate home that will meet the child’s special needs and best interests shall also promote educational stability by taking into consideration proximity to the child’s school of origin, and school attendance area, the number of school
transfers the child has previously experienced, and the child’s school matriculation schedule, in addition to other indicators of educational stability that the Legislature hereby encourages the State Department of Social Services and the State Department of Education to develop.

(e) A written case plan shall be completed within a maximum of 60 days of the initial removal of the child or of the in-person response required under subdivision (f) of Section 16501 if the child has not been removed from his or her home, or by the date of the dispositional hearing pursuant to Section 358, whichever occurs first. The case plan shall be updated, as the service needs of the child
and family dictate. At a minimum, the case plan shall be updated in conjunction with each status review hearing conducted pursuant to Sections 364, 366, 366.3, and 366.31, and the hearing conducted pursuant to Section 366.26, but no less frequently than once every six months. Each updated case plan shall include a description of the services that have been provided to the child under the plan and an evaluation of the appropriateness and effectiveness of those services.

(1) It is the intent of the Legislature that extending the maximum time available for preparing a written case plan from 30 to 60 days will afford caseworkers time to actively engage families, and to solicit and integrate into the case plan the input of the child and the child’s family, as well as the input of relatives and other interested parties.

(2) The extension of the maximum time available for preparing a
written case plan from the 30 to 60 days shall be effective 90 days after the date that the department gives counties written notice that necessary changes have been made to the Child Welfare Services/Case Management System (CWS/CMS) to account for the 60-day timeframe for preparing a written case plan.

(g) The case plan shall be developed considering the recommendations of the child and family team, as follows:

(1) The case plan shall be based upon an assessment of the circumstances that required child welfare services intervention. The child shall be involved in developing the case plan as age and developmentally
appropriate.

(2) The case plan shall identify specific goals and the appropriateness of the planned services in meeting those goals.

(3) The case plan shall identify the original allegations of abuse or neglect, as defined in Article 2.5 (commencing with Section 11164) of Chapter 2 of Title 1 of Part 4 of the Penal Code, or the conditions cited as the basis for declaring the child a dependent of the court pursuant to Section 300, or all of these, and the other precipitating incidents that led to child welfare services intervention.

(4) The case plan shall include a description of the schedule of the placement agency contacts with the child and the family or other caretakers. The frequency of these contacts shall be in accordance with regulations adopted by the State Department of Social Services. If the child has
been placed in foster care out of state, the county social worker or probation officer, or a social worker or probation officer on the staff of the agency in the state in which the child has been placed, shall visit the child in a foster family home or the home of a relative, consistent with federal law and in accordance with the department’s approved state plan. For children in out-of-state group home facilities, visits shall be conducted at least monthly, pursuant to Section 16516.5. At least once every six months, at the time of a regularly scheduled placement agency contact with the foster child, the child’s social worker or probation officer shall inform the child of his or her rights as a foster child, as specified in Section 16001.9. The social worker or probation officer shall provide the information to the child in a manner appropriate to the age or developmental level of the child.

(5) (A) When out-of-home
services are used, the frequency of contact between the natural parents or legal guardians and the child shall be specified in the case plan. The frequency of those contacts shall reflect overall case goals, and consider other principles outlined in this section.

(B) Information regarding any court-ordered visitation between the child and the natural parents or legal guardians, and the terms and conditions needed to facilitate the visits while protecting the safety of the child, shall be provided to the child’s out-of-home caregiver as soon as possible after the court order is made.

(6) When out-of-home placement is made, the case plan shall include provisions for the development and maintenance of sibling relationships as specified in subdivisions (b), (c), and (d) of Section 16002. If appropriate, when siblings who are dependents of the juvenile court are not placed together,
the social worker for each child, if different, shall communicate with each of the other social workers and ensure that the child’s siblings are informed of significant life events that occur within their extended family. Unless it has been determined that it is inappropriate in a particular case to keep siblings informed of significant life events that occur within the extended family, the social worker shall determine the appropriate means and setting for disclosure of this information to the child commensurate with the child’s age and emotional well-being. These significant life events shall include, but shall not be limited to, the following:

(A) The death of an immediate relative.

(B) The birth of a sibling.

(C) Significant changes regarding a dependent child, unless the child objects to the sharing of the
information with his or her siblings, including changes in placement, major medical or mental health diagnoses, treatments, or hospitalizations, arrests, and changes in the permanent plan.

(7) If out-of-home placement is made in a foster family home, group home, or other child care institution that is either a substantial distance from the home of the child’s parent or out of state, the case plan shall specify the reasons why that placement is in the best interest of the child. When an out-of-state group home placement is recommended or made, the case plan shall, in addition, specify compliance with Section 7911.1 of the Family Code.

(8) A case plan shall ensure
the educational stability of the child while in foster care and shall include both of the following:

(A) An assurance that the placement takes into account the appropriateness of the current educational setting and the proximity to the school in which the child is enrolled at the time of placement.

(B) An assurance that the placement agency has coordinated with the person holding the right to make educational decisions for the child and appropriate local educational agencies to ensure that the child remains in the school in which the child is enrolled at the time of placement or, if remaining in that school is not in the best interests of the child, assurances by the placement agency and the local educational agency to provide immediate and appropriate enrollment in a new school and to provide all of the child’s educational records to the new school.

(9) (A) If out-of-home services are used, or if parental rights have been terminated and the case plan is placement for adoption, the case plan shall include a recommendation regarding the appropriateness of unsupervised visitation between the child and any of the child’s siblings. This recommendation shall include a statement regarding the child’s and the siblings’ willingness to participate in unsupervised visitation. If the case plan includes a recommendation for unsupervised sibling visitation, the plan shall also note that information necessary to accomplish this visitation has been provided to the child or to the child’s siblings.

(B) Information regarding the schedule and frequency of the visits between the child and siblings, as well as any court-ordered terms and conditions needed to facilitate the visits while protecting the safety of the child, shall
be provided to the child’s out-of-home caregiver as soon as possible after the court order is made.

(10) If out-of-home services are used and the goal is reunification, the case plan shall describe the services to be provided to assist in reunification and the services to be provided concurrently to achieve legal permanency if efforts to reunify fail. The plan shall also consider in-state and out-of-state placements, the importance of developing and maintaining sibling relationships pursuant to Section 16002, and the desire and willingness of the caregiver to provide legal permanency for the child if reunification is unsuccessful.

(11) If out-of-home services are used, the child has been in care for at least 12 months, and the goal is not adoptive placement, the case plan shall include documentation of the compelling reason or reasons why termination of parental rights is not in
the child’s best interest. A determination completed or updated within the past 12 months by the department when it is acting as an adoption agency or by a licensed adoption agency that it is unlikely that the child will be adopted, or that one of the conditions described in paragraph (1) of subdivision (c) of Section 366.26 applies, shall be deemed a compelling reason.

(12) (A) Parents and legal guardians shall have an opportunity to review the case plan, and to sign it whenever possible, and then shall receive a copy of the plan. In a voluntary service or placement agreement, the parents or legal guardians shall be required to review and sign the case plan. Whenever possible, parents and legal guardians shall participate in the development of the case plan. Commencing January 1, 2012, for nonminor dependents, as defined in subdivision (v) of Section 11400, who are receiving AFDC-FC or CalWORKs assistance up to 21 years
of age pursuant to Section 11403, the transitional independent living case plan, as set forth in subdivision (y) of Section 11400, shall be developed with, and signed by, the nonminor.

(B) Parents and legal guardians shall be advised that, pursuant to Section 1228.1 of the Evidence Code, neither their signature on the child welfare services case plan nor their acceptance of any services prescribed in the child welfare services case plan shall constitute an admission of guilt or be used as evidence against the parent or legal guardian in a court of law. However, they shall also be advised that the parent’s or guardian’s failure to cooperate, except for good cause, in the provision of services specified in the child welfare services case plan may be used in any hearing held pursuant to Section 366.21, 366.22, or 366.25 of this code as
evidence.

(13) A child shall be given a meaningful opportunity to participate in the development of the case plan and state his or her preference for foster care placement. A child who is 12 years of age or older and in a permanent placement shall also be given the opportunity to review the case plan, sign the case plan, and receive a copy of the case plan.

(14) The case plan shall be included in the court report and shall be considered by the court at the initial hearing and each review hearing. Modifications to the case plan made during the period between review hearings need not be approved by the court if the casework supervisor for that case determines that the modifications further the goals of the plan. If out-of-home services are used with the goal of family reunification, the case plan shall consider and describe the application of subdivision (b) of Section 11203.

(15) (A) If the case plan has as its goal for the child a permanent plan of adoption or
legal guardianship, it shall include a statement of the child’s wishes regarding their permanent placement plan and an assessment of those stated wishes. The agency shall also include documentation of the steps the agency is taking to find an adoptive family or other permanent living arrangements for the child; to place the child with an adoptive family, an appropriate and willing relative, or a legal guardian, and to finalize the adoption or legal guardianship. At a minimum, the documentation shall include child-specific recruitment efforts, such as the use of state, regional, and national adoption exchanges, including electronic exchange systems, when the child has been freed for adoption.
Regardless of whether the child has been freed for adoption, documentation shall include a description of any barriers to achieving legal permanence and the steps the agency will take to address those barriers. If the plan is for kinship guardianship, the case plan shall document how the child meets the kinship guardianship eligibility requirements.

(B) When the child is 16 years of age or older and is in another planned permanent living arrangement, the case plan shall identify the intensive and ongoing efforts to return the child to the home of the parent, place the child for adoption, place the child for tribal customary adoption in the case of an Indian child, establish a legal guardianship, or place the child nonminor dependent with a fit and willing relative, as appropriate. Efforts shall include the use of
technology, including social media, to find biological family members of the child.

(16) (A) (i) For a child who is 14 or 15 years of age, the case plan shall include a written description of the programs and services that will help the child, consistent with the child’s best interests, to prepare for the transition from foster care to successful adulthood. The description may be included in the document described in subparagraph (A) of paragraph (18).

(ii) When appropriate, for a child who is 16 years of age or older and, commencing January 1, 2012, for a nonminor dependent, the case plan shall include the transitional independent living plan (TILP), a written description of the programs and services that will help the child, consistent with the child’s best interests, to prepare for the transition from foster care to successful adulthood, and, in addition, whether the youth has an in-progress application pending for Title XVI Supplemental Security Income benefits or for Special Immigrant Juvenile Status or other applicable application for legal residency and an active dependency
case is required for that application. When appropriate, for a nonminor dependent, the transitional independent living case plan, as described in subdivision (v) of Section 11400, shall include the TILP, a written description of the programs and services that will help the nonminor dependent, consistent with his or her best interests, to prepare for transition from foster care and assist the youth in meeting the eligibility criteria set forth in paragraphs (1) to (5), inclusive, of subdivision (b) of Section 11403. If applicable, the case plan shall describe the individualized supervision provided in the supervised independent living placement as defined in subdivision (w) of Section 11400. The case plan shall be developed with the child or nonminor dependent and individuals identified as important to the child or nonminor dependent, and shall include steps the agency is taking to ensure that the child
or nonminor dependent achieves permanence, including maintaining or obtaining permanent connections to caring and committed adults.

(B) During the 90-day period prior to the participant attaining 18 years of age or older as the state may elect under Section 475(8)(B)(iii) of the federal Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. Sec. 675(8)(B)(iii)), whether during that period foster care maintenance payments are being made on the child’s behalf or the child is receiving benefits or services under Section 477 of the federal Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. Sec. 677), a caseworker or other appropriate agency staff or probation officer and other representatives of the participant, as appropriate, shall provide the youth or nonminor dependent with assistance and support in developing the written 90-day transition plan, that is personalized at the
direction of the child, information as detailed as the participant elects that shall include, but not be limited to, options regarding housing, health insurance, education, local opportunities for mentors and continuing support services, and workforce supports and employment services, a power of attorney for health care, and information regarding the advance health care directive form.

(C) For youth 14 years of age or older, the case plan shall include documentation that a consumer credit report was requested annually from each of the three major credit reporting agencies at no charge to the youth and that any results were provided to the youth. For nonminor dependents, the case plan shall include documentation that the county assisted the nonminor
dependent in obtaining his or her reports. The case plan shall include documentation of barriers, if any, to obtaining the credit reports. If the consumer credit report reveals any accounts, the case plan shall detail how the county ensured the youth received assistance with interpreting the credit report and resolving any inaccuracies, including any referrals made for the assistance.

(17) For youth 14 years of age or older and nonminor dependents, the case plan shall be developed in consultation with the youth. At the youth’s option, the consultation may include up to two members of the case planning team who are chosen by the youth and who are not foster parents of, or caseworkers for, the youth. The agency, at any time, may reject an individual selected by the youth to be a member of the case planning team if the agency has good cause to believe that the
individual would not act in the youth’s best interest. One individual selected by the youth to be a member of the case planning team may be designated to be the youth’s adviser and advocate with respect to the application of the reasonable and prudent parent standard to the youth, as necessary.

(18) For youth in foster care 14 years of age and older and nonminor dependents, the case plan shall include both of the following:

(A) A document that describes the youth’s rights with respect to education, health, visitation, and court participation, the right to be annually provided with copies of his or her credit reports at no cost while in foster care pursuant to Section
10618.6, and the right to stay safe and avoid exploitation.

(B) A signed acknowledgment by the youth that he or she has been provided a copy of the document and that the rights described in the document have been explained to the youth in an age-appropriate manner.

(19) The case plan for a child or nonminor dependent who is, or who is at risk of becoming, the victim of commercial sexual exploitation, shall document the services provided to address that issue.

(h) If the court finds, after considering the case plan, that unsupervised sibling visitation is appropriate and has been consented to, the court shall order that the child or the child’s siblings, the child’s current caregiver, and the child’s prospective adoptive parents, if applicable, be provided with information necessary to accomplish this visitation. This section does not require or prohibit the social worker’s facilitation, transportation, or supervision of visits between the child and his or her siblings.

(i) The
case plan documentation on sibling placements required under this section shall not require modification of existing case plan forms until the Child Welfare Service/Case Management System
(CWS/CMS) is implemented on a statewide basis.

(j) When a child is 10 years of age or older and has been in out-of-home placement for six months or longer, the case plan shall include an identification of individuals, other than the child’s siblings, who are important to the child and actions necessary to maintain the child’s relationship with those individuals, provided that those relationships are in the best interest of the child. The social worker or probation officer shall ask every child who is 10 years of age or older and who has been in out-of-home placement for six months or longer to identify individuals other than the
child’s siblings who are important to the child, and may ask any other child to provide that information, or may seek that information from the child and family team, as appropriate. The social worker or probation officer shall make efforts to identify other individuals who are important to the child, consistent with the child’s best interests.

(k) The child’s caregiver shall be provided a copy of a plan outlining the child’s needs and services. The nonminor dependent’s caregiver shall be provided with a copy of the nonminor’s TILP.

(l) Each county shall ensure that the total number of visits made by caseworkers on a monthly basis to children in foster care during a federal fiscal year is not less than 95 percent of the total number of those visits that would occur if each child were visited once every month while in care and that the majority of the visits occur in the residence of the child. The
county child welfare and probation departments shall comply with data reporting requirements that the department deems necessary to comply with the federal Child and Family Services Improvement Act of 2006 (Public Law 109-288) and the federal Child and Family Services Improvement and Innovation Act of 2011 (Public Law 112-34).

(l) The implementation and operation of the amendments to subdivision (i) enacted at the 2005–06 Regular Session shall be subject to appropriation through the budget process
and by phase, as provided in Section 366.35.

SEC. 110.

Section 16514 of the Welfare and Institutions Code is amended to read:

16514.

(a) A minor or nonminor who has been voluntarily placed, adjudged a dependent child of the juvenile court pursuant to Section 300, or as to whom a petition has been filed under Section 325, may be housed in an emergency shelter or, pursuant to the procedures for placement set forth in this code, placed in a foster family home, a resource family home, or with a foster family agency for subsequent placement in a suitable licensed foster family home or certified family home, with minors adjudged wards of the juvenile court pursuant to Section 601.

(b) A minor who has been voluntarily placed, adjudged a dependent child of the juvenile court pursuant to Section 300, or adjudged a ward
of the juvenile court pursuant to Section 601, shall not be housed in an emergency shelter with any minor adjudged a ward of the juvenile court pursuant to Section 602.

(c) A minor or nonminor who has been voluntarily placed, adjudged a dependent child of the juvenile court pursuant to Section 300, or as to whom a petition has been filed under Section 325, or a nonminor dependent, as described in subdivision (v) of Section 11400, shall not be placed or detained in a short-term residential treatment center, group home or licensed foster family home, a resource family home, a certified family home, or an approved resource family or foster family agency, or, beginning January 1, 2017, a short-term residential treatment center, with any minor adjudged a ward of the juvenile court pursuant to Section 601 or 602, unless the social worker or
probation officer with placement authority has determined that the placement setting has a program that meets the specific needs of the minor or nonminor dependent being placed or detained, and there is a commonality of needs with the other minors and nonminor dependents in the placement setting.

(d) Nothing in this section shall transfer or eliminate the responsibility of the placing agency for the care, custody, or control of the child. Nothing in this section shall relieve a foster family agency of its responsibilities for or on behalf of a child placed with it.

For purposes of this section, the placing of children or nonminor dependents by foster family agencies shall be referred to as “subsequent placement” to distinguish the activity from the placing by public
agencies.

SEC. 111.

Section 16519.5 of the Welfare and Institutions Code is amended to read:

16519.5.

(a) The State Department of Social Services, in consultation with county child welfare agencies, foster parent associations, and other interested community parties, shall implement a unified, family friendly, and child-centered resource family approval process to replace the existing multiple processes for licensing foster family homes, approving relatives and nonrelative extended family members as foster care providers, and approving adoptive families.

(b) (1) Counties shall be selected to participate on a voluntary basis as early implementation counties for the purpose of participating in the initial development of the approval process. Early
implementation counties shall be selected according to criteria developed by the department in consultation with the County Welfare Directors Association. In selecting the five early implementation counties, the department shall promote diversity among the participating counties in terms of size and geographic location.

(2) Additional counties may participate in the early implementation of the program upon authorization by the department.

(c) (1) For the purposes of this chapter, “resource family” means an individual or couple that a participating county or foster family agency, as
defined in subdivision (g) of Section 11400 of this code, and paragraph (4) of subdivision (a) of Section 1502 of the Health and Safety Code, determines to have successfully met both the home
environment assessment standards and the permanency assessment criteria adopted pursuant to subdivision (d) necessary for providing care for a related or unrelated child who is under the jurisdiction of the juvenile court, or otherwise in the care of a county child welfare agency or probation department. A resource family shall demonstrate all of the following:

(A) An understanding of the safety, permanence, and well-being needs of children who have been victims of child abuse and neglect, and the capacity and willingness to meet those needs, including the need for protection, and the willingness to make use of support resources offered by the agency, or a support structure in place, or both.

(B) An understanding of children’s needs and development, effective
parenting skills or knowledge about parenting, and the capacity to act as a reasonable, prudent parent in day-to-day decisionmaking.

(C) An understanding of his or her role as a resource family and the capacity to work cooperatively with the agency and other service providers in implementing the child’s case plan.

(D) The financial ability within the household to ensure the stability and financial security of the family.

(E) An ability and willingness to provide a family setting that promotes normal childhood experiences that serves the needs of the child.

(2) Subsequent to meeting the criteria set forth in this subdivision and designation as a resource
family, a resource family shall be considered eligible to provide foster care for related and unrelated children in out-of-home placement, shall be considered approved for adoption or guardianship, and shall not have to undergo any additional approval or licensure as long as the family lives in a county participating in the program.

(3) Resource family approval means that the applicant successfully meets the home environment assessment and permanency assessment standards. This approval is in lieu of the existing foster care license, relative or nonrelative extended family member approval, and the adoption home study approval.

(4) Approval of a resource family does not guarantee an initial or continued placement of a child with a resource family.

(5) Notwithstanding paragraphs (1) to (4), inclusive, the department or county may cease any further review of an application if the applicant has had a previous application denial within the preceding year, or if the applicant has had a previous rescission, revocation, or exemption denial or rescission by the department or county within the preceding two years. However, the department or county may continue to review an application if it has determined that the reasons for the previous denial, rescission, or revocation were due to circumstances and conditions that either have been corrected or are no longer in existence. If an individual was excluded from a resource family home or facility licensed by the department, the department or county shall cease review of the individual’s application unless the excluded individual has been
reinstated pursuant to Section 11522 of the Government Code. The cessation of review shall not constitute a denial of the application for purposes of this section or any other law.

(d) Prior to implementation of this program, the department shall adopt standards pertaining to the home environment and permanency assessments of a resource family.

(1) Resource family home environment assessment standards shall include, but not be limited to, all of the following:

(A) (i) Criminal records clearance of all adults residing in, or regularly present in, the home, and not exempted from fingerprinting, as set forth in subdivision (b) of Section 1522 of the Health and Safety Code, pursuant to Section 8712 of the
Family Code, utilizing a check of the Child Abuse Central Index (CACI),
and receipt of a fingerprint-based state and federal criminal offender record information search response. The criminal history information shall include subsequent notifications pursuant to Section 11105.2 of the Penal Code.

(ii) Consideration of any substantiated allegations of child abuse or neglect against either the applicant or any other adult residing in the home. An approval may not be granted to applicants whose criminal record indicates a conviction for any of the offenses specified in subdivision (g) of Section 1522 of the Health and Safety Code.

(iii) If the resource family parent, applicant, or any other person specified in
subdivision (b) of Section 1522 of the Health and Safety Code has been convicted of a crime other than a minor traffic violation, except for the civil penalty language, the criminal background check provisions specified in subdivisions (d) through (f) of Section 1522 of the Health and Safety Code shall apply. Exemptions from the criminal records clearance requirements set forth in this section may be granted by the director or the early implementation county, if that county has been granted permission by the director to issue criminal records exemptions pursuant to Section 361.4, using the exemption criteria currently used for foster care licensing as specified in subdivision (g) of Section 1522 of the Health and Safety Code.

(iv) For public foster family agencies approving
resource families, the criminal records clearance process set forth in clause (i) shall be utilized.

(v) For private foster family agencies approving resource families, the criminal records clearance process set forth in clause (i) shall be utilized, but the Department of Justice shall disseminate a fitness determination resulting from the federal criminal offender record information search.

(B) Buildings and grounds and storage requirements set forth in Sections 89387 and 89387.2 of Title 22 of the California Code of Regulations.

(C) In addition to the foregoing requirements, the resource family home environment assessment standards shall also require the following:

(i) That the applicant demonstrate an understanding about the rights of children in care and his or her responsibility to safeguard those rights.

(ii) That the total number of children residing in the home of a resource family shall be no more than the total number of children the resource family can properly care for, regardless of status, and shall not exceed six children, unless exceptional circumstances that are documented in the foster child’s case file exist to permit a resource family to care for more children, including, but not limited to, the need to place siblings together.

(iii) That the applicant understands his or her responsibilities with respect to acting as a reasonable and prudent parent, and maintaining the least restrictive environment that serves the
needs of the child.

(2) The resource family permanency assessment standards shall include, but not be limited to, all of the following:

(A) The applicant shall complete caregiver training.

(B) (i) The applicant shall complete a psychosocial assessment, which shall include the results of a risk assessment.

(ii) A caregiver risk assessment shall include, but shall not be limited to, physical and mental health, alcohol and other substance use and abuse, family and domestic violence, and the factors listed in subparagraphs (A) and (D) of paragraph (1) of subdivision (c).

(C) The applicant shall complete any other activities that relate to a resource family’s ability to achieve permanency with the child.

(e) (1) A child may be placed with a resource family that has successfully completed the home environment assessment prior to completion of a permanency assessment only if a compelling reason for the placement exists based on the needs of the child.

(2) The permanency assessment shall be completed within 90 days of the child’s placement in the home, unless good cause exists based upon the needs of the child.

(3) If additional time is needed to complete the permanency assessment, the county shall document the extenuating circumstances for the delay and generate a timeframe
for the completion of the permanency assessment.

(4) The county shall report to the department on a quarterly basis the number of families with a child in an approved home whose permanency assessment goes beyond 90 days and summarize the reasons for these delays.

(5) A child may be placed with a relative, as defined in Section 319, or nonrelative extended family member, as defined in Section 362.7, prior to applying as a resource family only on an emergency basis if all of the following requirements are met:

(A) Consideration of the results of a criminal records check conducted pursuant to Section 16504.5 of the relative or nonrelative extended family member and of every other adult in the home.

(B) Consideration of the results of the Child Abuse Central Index (CACI) consistent with Section 1522.1 of the Health and Safety Code of the relative or nonrelative extended family member, and of every other adult in the home.

(C) The home and grounds are free of conditions that pose undue risk to the health and safety of the child.

(D) For any placement made pursuant to this paragraph, the county shall initiate the home environment assessment no later than five business days after the placement, which shall include a face-to-face interview with the resource family applicant and child.

(E) For any placement made pursuant to this paragraph, AFDC-FC funding shall
not be available until approval of the resource family has been completed.

(F) Any child placed under this section shall be afforded all the rights set forth in Section 16001.9.

(f) The State Department of Social Services shall be responsible for all of the following:

(1) Selecting early implementation counties, based on criteria established by the department in consultation with the County Welfare Directors Association.

(2) Establishing timeframes for participating counties to submit an implementation plan, enter into terms and conditions for participation in the program, train appropriate staff, and accept applications from resource families.

(3) Entering into terms and conditions for participation in the program by counties.

(4) Administering the program through the issuance of written directives that shall have the same force and effect as regulations. Any directive affecting Article 1 (commencing with Section 700) of Chapter 7 of Title 11 of the California Code of Regulations shall be approved by the Department of Justice. The directives shall be exempt from the rulemaking provisions of the Administrative Procedure Act (Chapter 3.5 (commencing with Section 11340)) of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code.

(5) Approving and requiring the use of a single standard for resource family approval.

(6) Adopting and requiring the use of standardized documentation for the home environment and permanency assessments of resource families.

(7) Requiring counties to monitor resource families including, but not limited to, all of the following:

(A) Investigating complaints of resource families.

(B) Developing and monitoring resource family corrective action plans to correct identified deficiencies and to rescind resource family approval if compliance with corrective action plans is not achieved.

(8) Ongoing oversight and monitoring of county systems and operations including all of the following:

(A) Reviewing the county’s implementation of the program.

(B) Reviewing an adequate number of approved resource families in each participating county to ensure that approval standards are being properly applied. The review shall include case file documentation, and may include onsite inspection of individual resource families. The review shall occur on an annual basis, and more frequently if the department becomes aware that a participating county is experiencing a disproportionate number of complaints against individual resource family homes.

(C) Reviewing county reports of serious complaints and incidents involving approved resource families, as determined necessary by the department. The department may conduct an independent review of the complaint or incident and
change the findings depending on the results of its investigation.

(E) Requiring corrective action of counties that are not in full compliance with the terms and conditions of the program.

(9) Updating the Legislature on the early implementation phase of the program, including the status of implementation, successes, and challenges during the early implementation phase, and relevant available data, including resource family satisfaction.

(10) Implementing due process procedures, including all of the following:

(B) Amending the department’s applicable state hearing procedures and regulations or using the Administrative Procedure Act, when applicable, as necessary for the administration of the program.

(g) Counties participating in the program shall be responsible for all of the following:

(1) Submitting an implementation plan, entering into terms and conditions for participation in the program, consulting with the county probation department in the development of the implementation plan, training appropriate staff, and accepting applications from resource families within the timeframes established by the department.

(2) Complying with the written directives pursuant to paragraph (4) of subdivision (f).

(3) Implementing the requirements for resource family approval and utilizing standardized documentation established by the department.

(4) Ensuring staff have the education and experience necessary to complete the home environment and psychosocial assessments competently.

(5) (A) Taking the following actions, as applicable:

(i) Approving or denying resource family
applications.

(ii) Rescinding approvals of resource families.

(iii) Excluding a resource family parent or other individual from presence in a resource family home, consistent with the established standard.

(iv) Issuing a temporary suspension order that suspends the resource family approval prior to a hearing when urgent action is needed to protect a child or nonminor dependent from physical or mental abuse, abandonment, or any other substantial threat to health or safety, consistent with the established standard.

(B) Providing a resource family parent, applicant, or excluded individual requesting review of that decision with due
process pursuant to the department’s statutes, regulations, and written directives.

(C) Notifying the department of any decisions denying a resource family’s application or rescinding the approval of a resource family, excluding an individual, or taking other administrative action.

(D) Issuing a temporary suspension order that suspends the resource family approval prior to a hearing, when urgent action is needed to protect a child or nonminor dependent who is or may be placed in the home from physical or mental abuse, abandonment, or any other substantial threat to health or safety.

(6) Updating resource family approval annually.

(7) Monitoring
resource families through all of the following:

(A) Ensuring that social workers who identify a condition in the home that may not meet the approval standards set forth in subdivision (d) while in the course of a routine visit to children placed with a resource family take appropriate action as needed.

(B) Requiring resource families to comply with corrective action plans as necessary to correct identified deficiencies. If corrective
action is not completed as specified in the plan, the county may rescind the resource family approval.

(C) Requiring resource families to report to the county child welfare agency any incidents consistent with the reporting requirements for licensed foster family homes.

(8) Investigating all complaints against a resource family and taking action as necessary. This shall include investigating any incidents reported about a resource family indicating that the approval standard is not being maintained.

(A) The child’s social worker shall not conduct the formal investigation into the complaint received concerning a family providing services under the standards required by subdivision (d). To the extent that
adequate resources are available, complaints shall be investigated by a worker who did not initially conduct the home environment or psychosocial assessments.

(B) Upon conclusion of the complaint investigation, the final disposition shall be reviewed and approved by a supervising staff member.

(C) The department shall be notified of any serious incidents or serious complaints or any incident that falls within the definition of Section 11165.5 of the Penal Code. If those incidents or complaints result in an investigation, the department shall also be notified as to the status and disposition of that investigation.

(9) Performing corrective action as required by the department.

(10) Assessing county performance in related areas of the California Child and Family Services Review System, and remedying problems identified.

(11) Submitting information and data that the department determines is necessary to study, monitor, and prepare the report specified in paragraph (9) of subdivision (f).

(12) Ensuring resource family applicants and resource families have the necessary knowledge, skills, and abilities to support children in foster care by completing caregiver training. The training should include a curriculum that supports the role of a resource family in parenting vulnerable children and should be ongoing in order to provide resource families with information on trauma-informed practices and requirements and other topics within the
foster care system.

(13) Ensuring that a resource family applicant completes a minimum of 12 hours of preapproval training. The training shall include, but not be limited to, all of the following courses:

(A) An overview of the child protective and probation systems.

(B) The effects of trauma, including grief and loss, and child abuse and neglect, on child development and behavior, and methods to behaviorally support children impacted by that trauma or child abuse and neglect.

(F) The rights of a child in foster care, and the resource family’s responsibility to safeguard those rights, including the right to have fair and equal access to all available services, placement, care, treatment, and benefits, and to not be subjected to discrimination or harassment on the basis of actual or perceived race, ethnic group identification, ancestry, national origin, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, mental or physical disability, or HIV status.

(G) Cultural needs of children, including instruction on cultural
competency and sensitivity, and related best practices for providing adequate care for children or youth across diverse ethnic and racial backgrounds, as well as children or youth identifying as lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender.

(H) Basic instruction on existing laws and procedures regarding the safety of foster youth at school; and ensuring a harassment and violence free school environment pursuant to Article 3.6 (commencing with Section 32228) of Chapter 2 of Part 19 of Division 1 of Title 1 of the Education Code.

(K) The role of resource families, including working cooperatively with the child welfare or probation agency, the child’s family, and other service providers implementing the case plan.

(L) The role of a resource family on the child and family team as defined in paragraph (4) of subdivision (a) of Section 16501.

(M) A resource family’s responsibility to act as a reasonable and prudent parent, and to provide a family setting that promotes normal childhood experiences and that serves the needs of the child.

(N) An overview of the specialized training identified in subdivision (h).

(14) Ensuring
approved resource families complete a minimum of eight training hours annually, a portion of which shall be from one or more of the topics listed in paragraph (13).

(h) In addition to any training required by this section, a resource family may be required to receive specialized training, as relevant, for the purpose of preparing the resource family to meet the needs of a particular child in care. This training may include, but is not limited to, the following:

(1) Understanding how to use best practices for providing care and supervision to commercially sexually exploited children.

(2) Understanding how to use best practices for providing care and supervision to lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender children.

(4) Understanding the federal Indian Child Welfare Act (25 U.S.C. Sec. 1901 et seq.), its historical significance, the rights of children covered by the act, and the best interests of Indian children, including the role of the caregiver in supporting culturally appropriate, child-centered practices that respect Native American history, culture, retention of tribal membership and connection to the tribal
community and traditions.

(5) Understanding how to use best practices for providing care and supervision to nonminor dependents.

(6) Understanding how to use best practices for providing care and supervision to children with special health care needs.

(7) Understanding the different permanency options and the services and benefits associated with the options.

(i) Nothing in this section shall preclude a county or a foster family agency from requiring resource family training in excess of the requirements in this section.

(j) (1) Approved relatives and nonrelative extended family members,
licensed foster family homes, or approved adoptive homes that have completed the license or approval process prior to full implementation of the program shall not be considered part of the program. The otherwise applicable assessment and oversight processes shall continue to be administered for families and facilities not included in the program.

(2) Upon implementation of the program in a county, that county may not accept new applications for the licensure of foster family homes, the approval of relative and nonrelative extended family members, or the approval of prospective adoptive homes.

(k) The department may waive regulations that pose a barrier to implementation and operation of this program. The waiver of any regulations by the department pursuant to this section shall apply
to only those counties or foster family agencies participating in the program and only for the duration of the program.

(l) Resource families approved under initial implementation of the program, who move within an early implementation county or who move to another early implementation county, shall retain their resource family status if the new building and grounds, outdoor activity areas, and storage areas meet home environment standards. The State Department of Social Services or early implementation county may allow a program-affiliated individual to transfer his or her subsequent arrest notification if the individual moves from one early implementation county to another early implementation county, as specified in subdivision (g) of Section 1522 of the Health and Safety Code.

(m) (1) The approval of a resource family who moves to a
nonparticipating county remains in full force and effect pending a determination by the county approval agency or the department, as appropriate, whether the new building and grounds and storage areas meet applicable standards, and whether all adults residing in the home have a criminal records clearance or exemptions granted, using the exemption criteria used for foster care licensing, as specified in subdivision (g) of Section 1522 of the Health and Safety Code. Upon this determination, the nonparticipating county shall either approve the family as a relative or nonrelative extended family member, as applicable, or the department shall license the family as a foster family home.

(2) Subject to the requirements in paragraph (1), the family shall continue to be approved for guardianship and adoption. Nothing in this
subdivision shall limit a county or adoption agency from determining that the family is not approved for guardianship or adoption based on changes in the family’s circumstances or psychosocial assessment.

(3) A program-affiliated individual who moves to a nonparticipating county may not transfer his or her subsequent arrest notification from a participating county to the nonparticipating county.

(n) Implementation of the program shall be contingent upon the continued availability of federal Social Security Act Title IV-E (42 U.S.C. Sec. 670) funds for costs associated with placement of children with resource families assessed and approved under the program.

(o) A child placed with a resource family shall be
eligible for AFDC-FC payments. A resource family, or a foster family agency pursuant to subdivisions (s) and (t), shall be paid an AFDC-FC rate pursuant to Sections 11460, 11461, and 11463. Sharing ratios for nonfederal expenditures for all costs associated with activities related to the approval of relatives and nonrelative extended family members shall be in accordance with Section 10101.

(p) The Department of Justice shall charge fees sufficient to cover the cost of initial or subsequent criminal offender record information and Child Abuse Central Index searches, processing, or responses, as specified in this section.

(q) Except as provided, approved resource families under this program shall be exempt from all of the following:

(1) Licensure requirements set forth under the Community Care Facilities Act, commencing with Section 1500 of the Health and Safety Code, and all regulations promulgated thereto.

(2) Relative and nonrelative extended family member approval requirements set forth under Sections 309, 361.4, and 362.7, and all regulations promulgated thereto.

(3) Adoptions approval and reporting requirements set forth under Section 8712 of the Family Code, and all regulations promulgated thereto.

(r) (1) Early implementation counties shall be authorized to continue through December 31, 2016. The program shall be implemented by each county on or before January 1, 2017.

(2) No later than July 1, 2017, each county shall provide the following information to all licensed foster family homes and all approved relatives and nonrelative extended family members:

(A) A detailed description of the resource family approval program.

(B) Notification that, in order to care for a foster child, resource family approval is required by December 31, 2019.

(C) Notification that a foster family home license and an approval of a relative or nonrelative extended family member shall be forfeited by operation of law as provided for in paragraph (4).

(3) By no later than January 1, 2018, the following shall apply to all licensed foster
family homes and approved relative and nonrelative extended family members:

(A) A licensed foster family home, and an approved relative or nonrelative extended family member with an approved adoptive home study completed prior to January 1, 2018, shall be deemed to be an approved resource family.

(B) A licensed foster family home, and an approved relative or nonrelative extended family member who had a child in placement at any time, for any length of time, between January 1, 2017, and December 31, 2017, inclusive, may be approved as a resource family on the date of successful completion of a psychosocial assessment pursuant to subparagraph (B) of paragraph (2) of subdivision (d).

(C) A county may provide
supportive services to all licensed foster family home providers, relatives, and nonrelative extended family members with a child in placement to assist with the resource family transition and to minimize placement disruptions.

(4) All foster family licenses and approvals of a relative or nonrelative extended family member shall be forfeited by operation of law on December 31, 2019, except as provided in this paragraph:

(A) All licensed foster family homes that did not have a child in placement at any time, for any length of time, between January 1, 2017, and December 31, 2017, inclusive, shall forfeit the license by operation of law on January 1, 2018.

(B) For foster family home licensees and approved relatives or nonrelative
extended family members who have a pending resource family application on December 31, 2019, the foster family home license or relative and nonrelative extended family member approval shall be forfeited by operation of law on the date of approval as a resource family. If approval is denied, forfeiture by operation of law shall occur on the date of completion of any proceedings required by law to ensure due process.

(s) On and after January 1, 2017, all licensed foster family agencies shall approve resource families in lieu of certifying foster homes. A foster family agency or a short-term residential treatment center pursuant to subdivision (b) of Section 11462 shall require applicants and resource families to meet the resource family approval standards and requirements set forth in this chapter and in the written directives adopted pursuant
to this chapter prior to approval and in order to maintain approval.

(t) Commencing January 1, 2016, the department may establish participation conditions, and select and authorize foster family agencies that voluntarily submit implementation plans and revised plans of operation in accordance with requirements established by the department, to approve resource families in lieu of certifying foster homes.

(1) Notwithstanding any other law, a participating foster family agency shall require resource families to meet and maintain the resource family approval standards and requirements set forth in this chapter and in the written directives adopted hereto prior to approval and in order to maintain approval.

(2) A
participating foster family agency shall implement the resource family approval program pursuant to Section 1517 of the Health and Safety Code.

(3) Nothing in this section shall be construed to limit the authority of the department to inspect, evaluate, or investigate a complaint or incident, or initiate a disciplinary action against a foster family agency pursuant to Article 5 (commencing with Section 1550) of Chapter 3 of Division 2 of the Health and Safety Code, or to take any action it may deem necessary for the health and safety of children placed with the foster family agency.

(4) The department may adjust the foster family agency AFDC-FC rate pursuant to Section 11463 for implementation of this subdivision.

SEC. 112.

Section 16519.52 is added to the Welfare and Institutions Code, to read:

16519.52.

(a) A resource family may install and use delayed egress devices of the time delay type in the home of the resource family.

(b) As used in this section, “delayed egress device” means a device that precludes the use of exits for a predetermined period of time. These devices shall not delay any resident’s departure from the home for longer than 30 seconds.

(c) Within the 30 seconds of delay, a resource family may attempt to redirect a resident who attempts to leave the home.

(d) Any person accepted by a resource family using delayed egress
devices in the home shall meet all of the following conditions:

(1) The person shall have a developmental disability, as defined in Section 4512.

(3) An interdisciplinary team, through the Individual Program Plan (IPP) process pursuant to Section 4646.5, shall have determined that the person lacks hazard awareness or impulse control and requires the level of supervision afforded by a resource family in a home equipped with delayed egress devices, and that, but for this placement, the person would be at risk of admission
to, or would have no option but to remain in, a more restrictive state hospital or state developmental center placement.

(e) The home shall be subject to all fire and building codes, regulations, and standards applicable to residential care facilities for the elderly utilizing delayed egress devices, and shall receive approval by the county or city fire department, the local fire prevention district, or the State Fire Marshal for the installed delayed egress devices.

(f) The resource family shall provide training regarding the use and operation of the egress control devices used by any person caring for a resident, protection of residents’ personal rights, lack of hazard awareness and impulse control behavior, and emergency evacuation procedures.

(g) The resource family shall develop a plan of operation that is authorized by the approving county and includes a description of how the home is to be equipped with egress control devices that are consistent with regulations adopted by the State Fire Marshal pursuant to Section 13143 of the Health and Safety Code.

(h) The plan shall include, but shall not be limited to, all of the following:

(1) A description of how the resource family will provide training for persons caring for a resident regarding the use and operation of the egress control devices used in the home.

(2) A description of how the resource family will ensure the protection of the residents’
personal rights consistent with Sections 4502, 4503, and 4504.

(3) A description of how the resource family will manage the person’s lack of hazard awareness and impulse control behavior.

(4) A description of the resource family’s emergency evacuation procedures.

(i) Delayed egress devices shall not substitute for adequate supervision. The capacity of the home shall not exceed six residents.

(j) Emergency fire and earthquake drills shall be conducted at least once every three months, and shall include all persons providing resident care and supervision.

SEC. 113.

Section 16519.53 is added to the Welfare and Institutions Code, to read:

16519.53.

(a) A resource family shall be authorized to administer emergency medical assistance and injections for severe diabetic hypoglycemia and anaphylactic shock to a foster child in placement in accordance with subdivision (a) of Section 1507.25 of the Health and Safety Code.

(b) A resource family shall be authorized to administer subcutaneous injections of other medications, including insulin, as prescribed by a child’s physician, to a foster child in placement in accordance with subdivision (b) of Section 1507.25 of the Health and Safety Code.

SEC. 114.

Section 16519.54 is added to the Welfare and Institutions Code, to read:

16519.54.

Notwithstanding any other law, a resource family shall not be subject to civil penalties imposed pursuant to the Community Care Facilities Act (Chapter 3 (commencing with Section 1500) of Division 2 of the Health and Safety Code).

SEC. 115.

Section 16519.55 is added to the Welfare and Institutions Code, to read:

16519.55.

(a) Subject to subdivision (b), to encourage the recruitment of resource families, to protect their personal privacy, and to preserve the security of confidentiality of the placements with resource families, the names, addresses, and other identifying information of resource families shall be considered personal information for purposes of the Information Practices Act of 1977 (Chapter 1 (commencing with Section 1798) of Title 1.8 of Part 4 of Division 3 of the Civil Code). This information shall not be disclosed by any state or local agency pursuant to the California Public Records Act (Chapter 3.5 (commencing with Section 6250) of Division 7 of Title 1 of the Government Code), except as necessary for administering the
resource family approval program, facilitating the placement of children with resource families, and providing names and addresses, upon request, only to bona fide professional foster parent organizations and to professional organizations educating foster parents, including the Foster and Kinship Care Education Program of the California Community Colleges.

(b) The department, a county, or a foster family agency may request information from, or divulge information to, the department, a county, or a foster family agency, regarding a prospective resource family for the purpose of and as necessary to conduct a reference check to determine whether it is safe and appropriate to approve an applicant to be a resource family.

SEC. 116.

Section 16519.6 is added to the Welfare and Institutions Code, to read:

16519.6.

(a) All hearings conducted pursuant to Section 16519.5 shall be conducted in accordance with the requirements of this section.

(b) The procedures set forth in Chapter 7 (commencing with Section 10950) of Part 2 apply to matters set before the department, except as otherwise provided in this section.

(c) The procedures
set forth in Chapter 3 (commencing with Section 1500) of Division 2 of the Health and Safety Code, and the procedures set forth in the Administrative Procedure Act, apply to matters set before the Office of Administrative Hearings, except as otherwise provided in this section.

(d) Notwithstanding Section 10951, a resource family, applicant, or excluded individual may file an appeal within 25 days of service of a notice of action. Pursuant to Section 1013 of the Code of Civil Procedure, if the notice of action is served by mail, the time to respond shall be extended five days, not to exceed 30 days to file the appeal.

(e) Notwithstanding Section 10951, a county’s action shall be final, or for matters set before the department, an action shall be subject to dismissal,
if the resource family, applicant, or excluded individual does not file an appeal to the notice of action within the prescribed time.

(f) Except as provided in subdivisions (g) and (h), and notwithstanding Section 10952, a hearing under this section shall be held within 90 days following the receipt of a timely appeal or notice of defense, unless a continuance of the hearing is granted for good cause.

(g) If the county or department has issued an immediate exclusion order, the timelines and provisions set forth in Section 1558 of the Health and Safety Code shall apply, unless a continuance of the hearing is granted for good cause.

(h) If the county or department has issued a temporary suspension order, the hearing
shall be held within 30 days following the receipt of a timely appeal or notice of defense. The temporary suspension order shall remain in effect until the time the hearing is completed and the director has made a final determination on the merits. However, the temporary suspension order shall be deemed vacated if the director fails to make a final determination on the merits within 30 days after receipt of the proposed decision by the county or department.

(i) Upon a finding of noncompliance, the department may require a foster family agency to deny or rescind the approval of a home, or take other action deemed necessary for the protection of a child who is or who may be placed in the home. The resource family, applicant, or excluded individual shall be afforded the due process provided pursuant to this section.

(1) If the department requires a foster family agency to deny or rescind the approval, the department shall serve an order of denial or rescission notifying the resource family, applicant, and foster family agency of the basis of the department’s action and of the right to a hearing.

(2) The department’s order of the denial or rescission of the approval shall remain in effect until the hearing is completed and the director has made a final determination on the merits.

(3) A foster family agency’s failure to comply with the department’s order to deny or rescind the approval by placing or retaining a child in care shall be grounds for disciplining the foster family agency pursuant to Section 1550 of the Health and Safety Code.

(j) A resource family, applicant, or excluded individual who files an appeal to a notice of action pursuant to this section shall, as part of the appeal, provide his or her current mailing address. The resource family, applicant, or excluded individual shall subsequently notify the county, or department if applicable, in writing of any change in mailing address, until the hearing process has been completed or terminated.

(k) Service by mail of a notice or other writing on a resource family, applicant, or excluded individual in a procedure provided herein is effective if served to the last mailing address on file with the county or department. Service of a notice of action may be by personal service or by first class mail. If the last day for performance of any action required
herein falls on a holiday, then such period shall be extended to the next day which is not a holiday.

(l) In all proceedings conducted in accordance with this section, the burden of proof on the department or county shall be by a preponderance of the evidence.

(m) The county or department may institute or continue an administrative proceeding against a resource family, applicant, or excluded individual upon any ground provided by this section, enter an order denying or rescinding the approval, exclude an associated individual, issue a temporary suspension order, or otherwise take disciplinary action against a resource family, applicant, or excluded individual, notwithstanding any resignation, withdrawal, surrender of approval, or denial or rescission of the
approval by a foster family agency.

SEC. 117.

Section 18251 of the Welfare and Institutions Code is amended to read:

18251.

As used in this chapter:

(a) “County” means each county participating in an individualized or wraparound services program.

(b) “County placing agency” means a county welfare or probation department, or a county mental health department.

(c) “Eligible child” means a child or nonminor dependent, as described in subdivision (v) of Section 11400, who is any of the following:

(1) A child or nonminor dependent who has been adjudicated as either a dependent, transition dependent, or ward of the juvenile court pursuant to
Section 300, 450, 601, or 602 and who would be placed in a group home licensed by the department at a rate classification level of 10 or higher, or commencing January 1, 2017, would be placed in a short-term residential treatment center.

(2) A child or nonminor dependent who is currently, or who would be, placed in a group home licensed by the department at a rate classification level of 10 or higher, or commencing January 1, 2017, would be placed in a short-term residential treatment center.

(3) A child who is eligible for adoption assistance program benefits when the responsible public agency has approved the provision of wraparound services in lieu of out-of-home placement care at a rate classification level of 10 or higher, or commencing January 1, 2017, would be placed in a
short-term residential treatment center.

(d) “Wraparound services” means community-based intervention services that emphasize the strengths of the child and family and includes the delivery of coordinated, highly individualized unconditional services to address needs and achieve positive outcomes in their lives.

(e) “Service allocation slot” means a specified amount of funds available to the county to pay for an individualized intensive wraparound services package for an eligible child. A service allocation slot may be used for more than one child on a successive basis.

SEC. 118.

Section 18254 of the Welfare and Institutions Code is amended to read:

18254.

(a) Rates for wraparound services, under the wraparound services program, shall be based on the following factors:

(1) The average cost of rate classification 10 to 11 in each county, minus the cost of any concurrent out-of-home placement, for children who are or would be placed in a rate level 10 or 11 group home.

(2) The average cost of rate classification 12 to 14 in each county, minus the cost of any concurrent out-of-home placement, for children who are or would be placed in a rate level 12 to 14 group home.

(b) (1) Prior to
the 2011–12 fiscal year, the department shall reimburse each county, for the purpose of providing intensive wraparound services, up to 100 percent of the state share of nonfederal funds, to be matched by each county’s share of cost as established by law, and to the extent permitted by federal law, up to 100 percent of the federal funds allocated for group home placements of eligible children, at the rate authorized pursuant to subdivision (a).

(2) Beginning in the 2011–12 fiscal year, and for each fiscal year thereafter, funding and expenditures for programs and activities under this section shall be in accordance with the requirements provided in Sections 30025 and 30026.5 of the Government Code.

(c) County, and to the extent permitted by federal law, federal, foster
care funds shall remain with the administrative authority of the county, which may enter into an interagency agreement to transfer those funds, and shall be used to provide intensive wraparound services.

(d) Costs for the provision of benefits to eligible children, at rates authorized by subdivision (a), through the wraparound services program authorized by this chapter, shall not exceed the costs which would otherwise have been incurred had the eligible children been placed in a group home.

(e) This section shall remain in effect only until January 1, 2017, and as of that date is repealed, unless a later enacted statute, that is enacted before January 1, 2017, deletes or extends that date.

SEC. 119.

Section 18254 is added to the Welfare and Institutions Code, to read:

18254.

(a) (1) Commencing January 1, 2017, the rate for wraparound services, under the wraparound services program, shall be eight thousand five hundred seventy-three dollars ($8,573), based on the average cost of rate classification levels 10.5 and 13 in effect for the 2014–15 fiscal year.

(2) The rate was determined by using the existing rates determined for the 2014–15 fiscal year for rate classification levels 10.5 and 13.

(A) Combining and calculating the average of the two.

(B) Minus the cost of any concurrent out-of-home placement for children who are or would be placed in a rate classification level 10 to 11 and 12 to 14 group home, respectively.

(b) For each fiscal year, funding and expenditures for programs and activities under this section shall be in accordance with the requirements provided in Sections 30025 and 30026.5 of the Government Code.

(c) County and federal foster care funds, to the extent permitted by federal law, shall remain with the administrative authority of the county, which may enter into an interagency agreement to transfer those funds, and shall be used to provide intensive wraparound services.

(d) Costs for the provision of benefits to eligible
children, at rates authorized by subdivision (a), through the wraparound services program authorized by this chapter, shall not exceed the costs that otherwise would have been incurred had the eligible children been placed in a short-term residential treatment center.

(e) Commencing January 1, 2018, and each January 1 thereafter, an annual cost-of-living increase shall be applied to the wraparound rate, subject to the availability of county funds, equal to the California Necessities Index used in the preparation of the May Revision for the current fiscal year.

(f) This section shall become operative on January 1, 2017.

SEC. 120.

Section 18987.72 of the Welfare and Institutions Code is amended to read:

18987.72.

(a) In order to obtain knowledge and experience with which to inform the process of developing and implementing the plan for residentially based services, required by Section 18987.7, the department shall encourage counties and private nonprofit agencies to develop voluntary agreements to test alternative program design and funding models for transforming existing group home programs into residentially based services programs in order to meet the diverse needs of children or youth and families in the child welfare, juvenile justice, and mental health systems.

(b) (1) With the approval of the department, any counties participating in the federal Title IV-E
waiver capped allocation demonstration project pursuant to Section 18260, at their option, and two other counties may enter into and implement voluntary agreements with private nonprofit agencies to transform all or part of an existing group home program into a residentially based services program.

(2) If one or more counties participating in the federal Title IV-E waiver capped allocation demonstration project opts not to enter into a voluntary agreement pursuant to this chapter, the department may select one or more nonwaiver counties. The department may approve up to four counties to participate in the voluntary agreements pursuant to this section.

(3) The department shall select participating counties, based on letters of interest submitted to the department from counties,
in consultation with the California Alliance of Child and Family Services and the County Welfare Directors Association.

(c) Voluntary agreements by counties and nonprofit agencies shall satisfy all of the following requirements:

(1) Incorporate and address all of the components and elements for residentially based services described in the “Framework for a New System for Residentially-Based Services in California.”

(2) Reflect active collaboration among the private nonprofit agency that will operate the residentially based services program and county departments of social services, mental health, or juvenile justice, alcohol and drug programs, county offices of education, or other public entities, as appropriate, to
ensure that children, youth, and families receive the services and support necessary to meet their needs.

(3) Provide for an annual evaluation report, to be prepared jointly by the county and the private nonprofit agency. The evaluation report shall include analyses of the outcomes for children and youth, including achievement of permanency, average lengths of stay, and rates of entry and reentry into group care. The evaluation report shall also include analyses of the involvement of children or youth and their families, client satisfaction, the use of the program by the county, the operation of the program by the private nonprofit agency, payments made to the private nonprofit agency by the county, actual costs incurred by the nonprofit agency for the operation of the program, and the impact of the program on state and county AFDC-FC
program costs. The county shall send a copy of each annual evaluation report to the director, and the director shall make these reports available to the Legislature upon request.

(4) Permit amendments, modifications, and extensions of the agreement to be made, with the mutual consent of both parties and with approval of the department, based on the evaluations described in paragraph (3), and on the experience and information acquired from the implementation and the ongoing operation of the program.

(5) Be consistent with the county’s system improvement plan developed pursuant to the California Child Welfare Outcomes and Accountability System.

(d) (1) Upon a county’s request, the director may waive
child welfare regulations regarding the role of counties in conjunction with private nonprofit agencies operating residentially based services programs to enhance the development and implementation of case plans and the delivery of services in order to enable a county and a private nonprofit agency to implement an agreement described in subdivision (b). Nothing in this section shall be construed to supersede the requirements set forth in subdivision (c) of Section 16501.

(2) Notwithstanding Sections 11460 and 11462, or any other law or regulation governing payments under the AFDC-FC program, upon the request of one or more counties, and in accordance with the voluntary agreements as described in subdivision (b), the director may also approve the use of up to a total of five alternative funding models for determining the method and
level of payments that will be made under the AFDC-FC program to private nonprofit agencies operating residentially based services programs in lieu of using the rate classification levels and schedule of standard rates provided for in Section 11462. These alternative funding models may include, but shall not be limited to, the use of cost reimbursement, case rates, per diem or monthly rates, or a combination thereof. An alternative funding model shall do all of the following:

(A) Support the values and goals for residentially based services, including active child and family involvement, permanence, collaborative decisionmaking, and outcome measurement.

(B) Ensure that quality care and effective services are delivered to appropriate children or youth at a reasonable cost to the
public.

(C) Ensure that payment levels are sufficient to permit the private nonprofit agencies operating residentially based services programs to provide care and supervision, social work activities, parallel predischarge community-based interventions for families, and followup postdischarge support and services for children and their families, including the cost of hiring and retaining qualified staff.

(D) Facilitate compliance with state requirements and the attainment of federal and state performance objectives.

(E) Control overall program costs by providing incentives for the private nonprofit agencies to use the most cost-effective approaches for achieving positive outcomes for the children or youth and their
families.

(F) Facilitate the ability of the private nonprofit agencies to access other available public sources of funding and services to meet the needs of the children or youth placed in their residentially based services programs, and the needs of their families.

(G) Enable the combination of various funding streams necessary to meet the full range of services needed by foster children or youth in residentially based services programs, with particular reference to funding for mental health treatment services through the Medi-Cal Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnosis, and Treatment program.

(H) Maximize federal financial participation, and mitigate the loss of federal funds, while ensuring the effective delivery
of services to children or youth and families, and the achievement of positive outcomes.

(I) Provide for effective administrative oversight and enforcement mechanisms in order to ensure programmatic and fiscal accountability.

(3) A waiver granted by the director pursuant to paragraph (1), or an approval of an alternative funding model pursuant to paragraph (2), shall be applicable only to the development, implementation, and ongoing operation of a residentially based services program and related county activities provided under the terms of the agreement and for the duration of the agreement, and shall be granted only when all of the following apply:

(A) The agreement promises to offer a worthwhile test related to
the development, implementation, and ongoing operation of a residentially based services program as described in this chapter.

(B) Existing regulatory provisions or the existing AFDC-FC payment requirements, or both, impose barriers for the effective, efficient, and timely implementation of the agreement.

(C) The requesting county proposes to monitor the agreement for compliance with the terms of the waiver or the alternative funding model, or both.

(D) Notwithstanding any change to payments made to group homes under Section 11462, the department may pay higher AFDC-FC payments for children and youth who are enrolled in a residentially based services program, to be offset by cost efficiencies achieved through shorter
lengths of stay in foster care, or a reduction of reentries into foster care, as a result of providing predischarge support and postdischarge services to the children or youth and their families. Any upfront costs for this project shall be offset by other program savings identified by the department, to ensure that there are no net General Fund costs in each fiscal year.

(e) In addition to the requirements set forth in subdivision (c), the voluntary agreements shall do all of the following:

(1) Provide that, to the extent that some of the care, services, and other activities associated with a residentially based services program operated under an agreement described in subdivision (b) are not eligible for federal financial participation as foster care maintenance payments
under Part E (commencing with Section 470) of Title IV of the federal Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. Sec. 670 et seq.), but may be eligible for federal financial participation as administration or training, or may be eligible for federal financial participation under other programs, including, but not limited to, Title XIX of the federal Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. Sec. 1396 et seq.), the appropriate state departments shall take measures to obtain that federal funding.

(2) Provide that, prior to approving any waiver or alternative funding model pursuant to subdivision (d), the director shall make a determination that the design of the residentially based services program to be operated under the agreement described in subdivision (b) would ensure the health and safety of children or youth to be served.

(f) Agreements entered into pursuant to this section shall terminate on or before January 1, 2017, or may be extended until January 1, 2019, upon approval by the department, on a case-by-case basis, unless a later enacted statute extends or removes this limitation.

(g) The department shall report during the legislative budget hearings on the status of any county agreements entered into pursuant to subdivision (b), and on the development of statewide residentially based services programs. This report shall be submitted with the recommendations made pursuant to Section 11461.2.

SEC. 121.

Notwithstanding the provisions of this act, on and after January 1, 2017, facilities with licensed capacity of 184 that were in operation prior to January 1, 2015, that offer placements for the purpose of attending an onsite high school, may continue to operate under an appropriate licensing category determined by the State Department of Social Services as long as those facilities submit to the department a transition plan describing how the program will comply with the provisions of this act, pursuant to a timeframe to be determined with the department.

SEC. 122.

The State Department of Social Services, State Department of Education, and special education local plan area (SELPA) directors shall work together to address the funding formula currently based in part on the State Department of Social Services rate classification level system. The rate classification level for group homes set by the State Department of Social Services shall sunset pursuant to this act. Section 56836.165 of the Education Code takes into account the rate classification level in Section 11462 of the Welfare and Institutions Code in setting its severity rating for purposes of its bed allowances. Prior to the sunset of the rate classification level, the departments and SELPA directors
shall work together to develop an alternative basis for its bed allowance formula.

SEC. 123.

(a) The State Department of Social Services and the State Department of Health Care Services shall adopt regulations as required to implement the provisions of this act.

(b) Notwithstanding the rulemaking provisions of the Administrative Procedure Act (Chapter 3.5 (commencing with Section 11340) of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code), the departments identified in subdivision (a) may implement and administer the changes made by this act through all-county letters or similar written instructions until regulations are adopted.

SEC. 124.

The State Department of Social Services shall provide periodic progress updates to the Legislature on the implementation of this act.

SEC. 125.

The State Department of Social Services shall work with counties that operate shelters, probation agencies, homeless shelter providers, residential education providers, and others as determined by the department to identify jointly developed alternative timeframes or criteria to be met in order to address the unique circumstances and needs of the populations they serve, while remaining consistent with the principles of this act.

SEC. 126.

(a) In order to accomplish the goals set forth in this act, the State Department of Social Services shall work with stakeholders, including other state departments, such as the State Department of Health Care Services, legislative staff, counties, and advocates, to address critical issues in the initial and ongoing implementation of this act. This work with stakeholders shall include the development of timelines and key milestones for implementation of this act, including a process to monitor progress. This work shall also include, but not be limited to, the identification of major implementation tasks and action steps, monitoring achievements, and developing recommendations for
addressing issues that arise during implementation. The department, in consultation with the stakeholder groups, shall measure and track changes in the numbers of out-of-home placements that are available to county placing agencies, including the geographic distribution of providers. The State Department of Health Care Services and the State Department of Social Services, as appropriate, shall also measure and track, in consultation with stakeholders, the availability and utilization of services, including, but not limited to, medical and behavioral health and child welfare services for children in out-of-home placements.

(b) The stakeholder process described in subdivision (a) may include the convening of a large workgroup or smaller workgroups that would address specific subject areas that may include, but are not limited to, the
following:

(1) Rate development for short-term residential treatment centers, foster family agencies, and other caregivers across the continuum of care.

(5) Meeting the needs of special populations within the child welfare system.

(6) The mental health certification process.

(7) Simplification
of the licensure and approval process for resource families.

(8) Outcomes, accountability measures, and data collection.

SEC. 127.

The Legislature finds and declares that this act, which adds Section 16519.55 to the Welfare and Institutions Code, imposes a limitation on the public’s right of access to the meetings of public bodies or the writings of public officials and agencies within the meaning of Section 3 of Article I of the California Constitution. Pursuant to that constitutional provision, the Legislature makes the following findings to demonstrate the interest protected by this limitation and the need for protecting that interest:

In order to encourage the recruitment of resource families, to protect their personal privacy, and to preserve the security of confidentiality
of the placements with resource families, it is necessary that the names, addresses, and other identifying information of resource families not be disclosed by any state or local agency pursuant to the California Public Records Act (Chapter 3.5 (commencing with Section 6250) of Division 7 of Title 1 of the Government Code), except as necessary for administering the resource family approval program, facilitating the placement of children with resource families, and providing names and addresses only to bona fide professional foster parent organizations upon request.

SEC. 128.

(a) Section 6.5 of this bill incorporates amendments to Section 1502 of the Health and Safety Code proposed by both this bill and Senate Bill 524. It shall only become operative if (1) both bills are enacted and become effective on or before January 1, 2016, (2) each bill amends Section 1502 of the Health and Safety Code, and (3) this bill is enacted after Senate Bill 524, in which case Section 6 of this bill shall not become operative.

(b) Section 18.5 of this bill incorporates amendments to Section 1522.41 of the Health and Safety Code proposed by both this bill and Senate Bill 238. It shall only become operative if (1) both bills are enacted and become effective on or before January 1, 2016, (2) each bill amends Section 1522.41 of the Health and Safety Code, and (3) this bill is enacted after Senate Bill 238, in which case Section 18 of this bill shall not become operative.

(c) Sections 23.5 and 24.5 of this bill incorporate statutory changes to Section 1529.2 of the Health and Safety Code proposed by both this bill and Senate Bill 238. They shall only become operative if (1) both bills are enacted and become effective on or before January 1, 2016, (2) each bill
makes changes to Section 1529.2 of the Health and Safety Code, and (3) this bill is enacted after Senate Bill 238, in which case Sections 23 and 24 of this bill shall not become operative.

(d) Section 31.5 of this bill incorporates amendments to Section 1536 of the Health and Safety Code proposed by both this bill and Senate Bill 484. It shall only become operative if (1) both bills are enacted and become effective on or before January 1, 2016, (2) each bill amends Section 1536 of the Health and Safety Code, and (3) this bill is enacted after Senate Bill 484, in which case Section 31 of this bill shall not become operative.

(e) Section 36.5 of this bill incorporates amendments to Section 1548 of the Health and
Safety Code proposed by both this bill and Assembly Bill 1387. It shall only become operative if (1) both bills are enacted and become effective on or before January 1, 2016, (2) each bill amends Section 1548 of the Health and Safety Code, and (3) this bill is enacted after Assembly Bill 1387, in which case Section 36 of this bill shall not become operative.

(f) Section 49.5 of this bill incorporates amendments to Section 706.6 of the Welfare and Institutions Code proposed by both this bill and Senate Bill 794. It shall only become operative if (1) both bills are enacted and become effective on or before January 1, 2016, (2) each bill amends Section 706.6 of the Welfare and Institutions Code, and (3) this bill is enacted after Senate Bill 794, in which case Section 49 of this bill shall not become operative.

(g)(1) Section 106.1 of this bill incorporates amendments to Section 16003 of the Welfare and Institutions Code proposed by both this bill and Senate Bill 238. It shall only become operative if (1) both bills are enacted and become effective on or before January 1, 2016, (2) each bill amends Section 16003 of the Welfare and Institutions Code, and (3) Senate Bill 794 is not enacted or as enacted does not amend that section, and (4) this bill is enacted after Senate Bill 238, in which case Sections 106, 106.2, and 106.3 of this bill shall not become operative.

(2) Section 106.2 of this bill incorporates amendments to Section 16003 of the Welfare and Institutions Code proposed by both this bill and Senate Bill 794. It shall only become operative if (1) both bills
are enacted and become effective on or before January 1, 2016, (2) each bill amends Section 16003 of the Welfare and Institutions Code, (3) Senate Bill 238 is not enacted or as enacted does not amend that section, and (4) this bill is enacted after Senate Bill 794 in which case Sections 106, 106.1 and 106.3 of this bill shall not become operative.

(3) Section 106.3 of this bill incorporates amendments to Section 16003 of the Welfare and Institutions Code proposed by this bill, Senate Bill 238, and Senate Bill 794. It shall only become operative if (1) all three bills are enacted and become effective on or before January 1, 2016, (2) each bill amends Section 16003 of the Welfare and Institutions Code, and (3) this bill is enacted after Senate Bill 238 and Senate Bill 794, in which case Sections 106, 106.1, and
106.2 of this bill shall not become operative.

(h) Section 108.5 of this bill incorporates amendments to Section 16501 of the Welfare and Institutions Code proposed by both this bill and Senate Bill 794. It shall only become operative if (1) both bills are enacted and become effective on or before January 1, 2016, (2) each bill amends Section 16501 of the Welfare and Institutions Code, and (3) this bill is enacted after Senate Bill 794, in which case Section 108 of this bill shall not become operative.

(i) Section 109.5 of this bill incorporates amendments to Section 16501.1 of the Welfare and Institutions Code proposed by both this bill and Senate Bill 794. It shall only become operative if (1) both bills are enacted and become
effective on or before January 1, 2016, (2) each bill amends Section 16501.1 of the Welfare and Institutions Code, and (3) this bill is enacted after Senate Bill 794, in which case Section 109 of this bill shall not become operative.

SEC. 129.

(a) To the extent that this act has an overall effect of increasing the costs already borne by a local agency for programs or levels of service mandated by the 2011 Realignment Legislation, Section 36 of Article XIII of the California Constitution shall govern this act’s application to local agencies and the state’s funding of those programs or levels of service.

(b) However, if the Commission on State Mandates determines that this act contains other costs mandated by the state for programs or levels of service not described
in subdivision (a), reimbursement to local agencies and school districts for those costs shall be made pursuant to Part 7 (commencing with Section 17500) of Division 4 of Title 2 of the Government Code.